http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/52383502.html

Put the health care reform bill online, now
Examiner Editorial

August 4, 2009 A thousand-page bill hit the House Clerk's desk in the wee hours of June 26, shortly before it was to receive a floor vote. The bill -- the Waxman-Markey cap-and-trade bill on carbon emissions -- had been substantially changed in committee the night before, with a 300-page amendment added. As the debate progressed later in the day, not even the clerk himself had a full, amended copy of the bill the House was about to vote on. Not one member of Congress could have possibly read it, because no complete version yet existed.

We hoped this debacle would not be repeated with health care, but here we go again. The House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a final version of the House health-care reform package Friday before leaving for the August recess. Whatever its merits, the American people must be able to study the approved bill's provisions before they talk to their senators and representatives members.

Unfortunately, the House Energy and Commerce Committee is dragging its feet on posting the final bill. When we called them yesterday morning to get a copy, we were told that the amended version might not be compiled until after the August recess. When we called back for an official comment, spokeswoman Lindsey Vidal gave us the slightly less jarring news that it would take at least two to three weeks, even though we live in an age of computer cut-and-paste.

Yes, more than 50 amendments were added and lawmakers made more than 123 pages of changes on Friday alone, some of them complex in nature. But unless it is being done in longhand, there is no reason not to post the text, amendments and all, immediately. Having millions of constituents reading it during the recess can only help clear up any misunderstandings about the bill's content.

In fact, the very volume of changes to the sweeping bill underscores the importance of giving the public a finished version as quickly as possible. Nearly every American's coverage might have to change because of this bill. Nearly every employer and every individual will be affected. Allowing weeks to go by before posting the text encourages one conclusion - House Democrats are afraid of what people will say when they read the bill. Judging by the tumultuous scenes already recorded at congressional town halls in Missouri and New York, it's easy to see why Democrats - who know what's in their bill - fear facing the music.

UPDATE EDITOR'S NOTE: The bill text that is posted as of 4 pm on Tuesday, 8/4/09, on the committee web site does not incorporate the multiple amendments that were approved by the committee.