Bunning Demands Dems Put Bill On Line; Baucus Refuses

It was a brilliant but obvious request, and it should have passed unanimously. Sen. Jim Bunning proposed that the Senate Finance Committee post the $ 900 billion health care bill online 72 hours before it is voted upon. And while you're at it, Bunning suggested, go ahead and post the the Congressional Budget Office analysis of what it will cost.

Sen. Max "the Gag Order" Baucus, however says that it's just too hard to do, and his fellow Democrats went along with the ruse, defeating the motion 12-11.

Masters of the Sucker Punch, the Democrats don't want the little people to read the bill until it's too late. The same for those Humana subscribers who -- according to the Congressional Budget Office -- will in fact see their Medicare Advantage benefits cut if this bill becomes law. But Baucus and his cronies reason that if we don't tell them, they won't worry. And anyone who dares tell the Seniors what to expect will be punished with a federal investigation.

Bunning, is absolutely right: the health care bill should be put on line for citizens to read it before our elected officials vote on it.

According to the Washington Examiner, only one Democrat, Sen. Blanche Lincoln, D-Ark, voted with Bunning. All the other Democrats essentially voted to hide the bill from the American people. So much for transparency.

Baucus's excuse is most amusing, given the Democrats' superiority on all things related to computer technology. After all, Al Gore invented the Internet, and President Barack Obama is the first president to refuse to give up his Blackberry. And recall how Democrats mocked Sen. John McCain for not being more proficient with a computer.

Nonetheless, Baucus claims -- with a straight face -- that it will take his staff two weeks to post the bill online. (Memo to Baucus: maybe you can get some of your federal investigators to help.)

Chairman Max Baucus, D-Mont., himself admitted that “This probably sounds a little crazy to some people that we are voting on something before we have seen legislative language.” Indeed.

Baucus's refusal to let citizens from around the country read the bill that will bankrupt our country and ruin our health care system -- it's almost as surprising as Iran having a second secret nuclear reactor.