Nothing would surprise me when it relates to politics. Roll Call has published a story charging Democrat’s with blocking a GOP mailing of a chart on the proposed health care plan to their constituents.
Following is part of the report. As always I am adding the story link at the end of this post.
Democrats Block GOP Health Care Mailing
July 23, 2009
By Jackie Kucinich
Roll Call Staff
Democrats are preventing Republican House Members from sending their constituents a mailing that is critical of the majority’s health care reform plan, blocking the mailing by alleging that it is inaccurate. House Republicans are crying foul and claiming that the Democrats are using their majority to prevent GOP Members from communicating with their constituents.
The dispute centers on a chart created by Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Republican staff of the Joint Economic Committee to illustrate the organization of the Democratic health care plan.
At first glance, Brady’s chart resembles a board game: a colorful collection of shapes and images with a web of lines connecting them.
But a closer look at the image reveals a complicated menagerie of government offices and programs that Republicans say will be created if the leading Democratic health care plan becomes law.
In a memo sent Monday to Republicans on the House franking commission, Democrats argue that sending the chart to constituents as official mail would violate House rules because the information is misleading.
In their eight-point memo, which was obtained by Roll Call, Democrats identify a litany of areas where they believe the chart is incorrect.
For example, Democrats argue that the chart depicts a “Health Insurance Exchange Trust Fund” that is “simply a recipient of IRS funds, with no outflow. … This is false.”
The chart’s illustration of low-income subsidies is also “misleading and false,” Democrats argue.
Congressional rules for franked mail bar Members from using taxpayer-funded mail for newsletters that use “partisan, politicized or personalized” comments to criticize legislation or policy.
The dispute over Brady’s chart is being reviewed by the franking commission, which must approve any mail before it can be sent. No decision had been made on the matter by press time.
Brady adamantly denied that the chart was misleading and said Democrats are simply threatened by the content of the graphic.
“The chart reveals how their health care bureaucracy works, and people are frightened by it,” he added. “So this is their effort to try and discredit” the chart.
“Hiding the truth about wildly unpopular policies is a Democrat specialty,” said one GOP aide. “I’d like to see the flow chart on how Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi plans on implementing the open and transparent government she keeps promising everyone.”
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-Calif.), ranking member of the committee and a member of the franking commission, said through a spokeswoman that he is also aware of the situation and is working with the members of the franking commission to resolve the differences, but he added that he believed Democrats on the commission were overreaching.
“He strongly believes that the franking commission does not have the authority to deny Member communications based on partisan differences of pending legislation,” said Salley Collins, a spokeswoman for Lungren.
http://www.rollcall.com/issues/55_12/news/37125-1.html?type=printer_friendly
Since there is not a final bill, sending out a mailing to descibe something that does not exist, is not public information.
It would and should also apply to pending bills by democrats also.
The current flow chart of how the current progams interact would also be fightening.But if a mailer is approved both should be included to show the changes.
Blue Dog Democrats: Who are these sons of bitches?
Why are they now against health care when they knew the guy that helped get them elected was making this a top priority. I say cut them off.
CJ
Jim.
Sending out a mailer after the Bill is signed is too late. My sense is that the Republicans in question have read all 1,000 plus pages and wish to share a chart of the impact of the Universal Health care proposal.
Elected officials inside the beltway need to be able to advise voters in their districts of “pending” legislation which might enable them time to correspond with the president and their state senators BEFORE the die is cast.
However, this must be a two way street. Each side should have the same opportunity to mail out their individual analysis or “spin.”
President Obama has made it very clear that he wants this bill passed BEFORE they go home to their constituents who just might tell them to vote NO!!!!
That is why the mailing should be sent our NOW so we can all read and challenge or support the data if we disagree.
I agree, but all voters should get the info from both sides. This would be more expensive but it is the best way for the voters to be best informed and involved as they should be.
Jim. We are in agreement.
I do receive updates from our Congressman and do not see any difference when it relates to a major policy issue before they cast their votes.