Pat Roberts Pleads For Three-Day Delay So Lobbyists Can Read Health Care Legislation (VIDEO)

Senate Finance Committee member Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) earnestly pleaded on Wednesday for the committee to delay a vote on its version of health care reform until after the proposed legislation has been up on the committee's website for at least three days.

"The thing I'm trying to point out," said Roberts, "is that we would have at least 72 hours for the people that the providers have hired to keep up with all of the legislation that we pass around here, and the regulations that we pass around here, to say, 'Hey, wait a minute. Have you considered this?' That's all I'm asking for."

Hard to imagine that "the people that the providers have hired to keep up with all of the legislation" means anything other than lobbyists from the health industry.

The statement is odd not only for its candor, but also for the fact that as far as anyone knows, the lobbyists are the ones writing the finance committee's bill to begin with. They should be pretty familiar with what's in there by now.

ThinkProgress caught the quote, and has video:

On MSNBC's "Countdown," guest host Lawrence O'Donnell ticked off a variety of other delay tactics used by opponents of health care reform during Wednesday's Senate Finance Committee mark-up. Watch the video, and his subsequent interview with Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio):

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

Comments

[bluecollarblogger]

12:29 AM on 09/27/2009

It is easy for someone who has all the time in the world to ask for 72 hours, in the mean time how many of my neighbors, of our neigbors will die..........without insurance. How many will be forced into bankruptcy.........without insurance. ........how many couples will divorce...........so they can have insurance.........

[blico]

06:34 AM on 09/28/2009

The same number and more, as this boondogle wont kick in till 2013.

[NORBIT]

07:29 PM on 09/28/2009

Nobody in this country is refused health care; and I've never seen "no health insurance" listed as cause of death on a certificate!

Try using something other than Democratic Propaganda Points if you want to convince someone of your POV.

[Aerows]

05:51 PM on 09/25/2009

Got to have 3 days to read it so I can pass out copies to all the lobbyists and formulate some new lies to tell about it.

[Mahi Joe]

07:31 AM on 09/26/2009

Naw, Roberts is playing it smart and knows it takes the bank 3 days to clear the lobbyists check.

[GlenParked]

05:16 PM on 09/25/2009

Am I the only one who sees the advantage of abolishing the lobbying industry? As unfortunate as that would be for the minority of special interest groups who lobby for causes that are beneficial to the people, it would eliminate the influence of Corporate America in the halls of our legislature. Just imagine the Senate and House of Representatives filled with politicians who faithfully serve their constituents, not the corporations that contribute generously to their campaign coffers. Perhaps I am being naive, but the insurance and pharmaceutical industries have been ripping off the people AND THE GOVERNMENT for decades...why should they have a say in reforming the system? Likewise with the upcoming financial reform debate; haven't the banks already resoundingly proven they are unwilling to perform in the best interests of the public trust?

Just who the hell is driving this bus???

[Aerows]

05:54 PM on 09/25/2009

It's legalized bribery and extortion. If we don't do something about the lobbyists, nothing will EVER get done that is for the benefit of the people and the nation. Why would anyone do anything real in politics when they can play around at it for a few years, and then go straight into lobbying where there's the big bucks, no oversight, and little pressure?

In answer to your question - the driver goes where the highest bidder says they want the bus to go.

[Emerald1943]

05:20 PM on 09/26/2009

I have been screeching about this for months! If we don't get campaign finance reform, we will never see legislation written to benefit the American people over the big corporations.

And if the SCOTUS votes as expected in favor of corporations on a case they are currently deliberating, we will no longer need elections. Our votes will be meaningless! The corporation with the deepest pockets will "buy" the elections and our leaders will be chosen for us. They will be allowed to run aggressive advertising campaigns for or against a candidate and affect the election outcomes.

If there is any doubt about how an aggressive ad campaign can color our politics, just look at what the lobbyists for the insurance companies have done to the health care debate, scaring the h3// out of the American people so that they can continue to rake in their obscene profits!

If the corporations win this battle, we will have full-blown FASCISM! Wake up, America!!

[MoeB]

02:43 PM on 09/25/2009

'Please democrats! If we don't have some extra days so that our misunderstood insurance company exec's get a chance to read the legislation, then how will we get our talking points against it?'

C'mon republicans...at least try to make it LOOK like you're fighting for the american public.

[vgirl1]

02:36 PM on 09/25/2009

Where have the legislators on the Finance committee been? Baucus introduced the committee's bill more than three days ago already?

If committee members would do their job from day one instead of being out there posturing about something they know nothing about, they would have already read the bill.

Do your job when it becomes available to be done,Congressman, and quit whining.

[Mark Twaine]

11:56 AM on 09/25/2009

Go ahead, Republicans, delay the bill. More time to expose shady deals between congressmen and the healthcare industry. A good example is Blue Dog Democrate Mike Ross of Arkansas who is digging a deeper hole by the day explaining his deal with a drug chain.

[Bruce Fenton]

10:07 AM on 09/25/2009

dont worry, the healthcare providers wrote it

[blood1]

08:31 AM on 09/25/2009

So, what is he really saying?

1. He is more concerned with the interest of Healthcare business than the American People.

2. He is incapable of making a coherent argument of his own...needs Lobbyist to make his talking points.

Are his constituents listening to this, he is willing to throw them under the bus because the Lobbyists can "prove" that their profits may be affected and can't face competition?

[Siebenstein]

06:51 AM on 09/25/2009

Hey Pat

Shut up
Sit down
Open your mouth wide
Feel it while we shove it down your throat
Cry

[CountryBeforeParty]

06:31 AM on 09/25/2009

NOW they want three days to read the bill???

They've had months to put something together rather than play obstructionists

[confidance government]

03:58 AM on 09/25/2009

I would really prefer it, if they didn't make the text of the bill available and just voted on it......

Seriously, he may have done this for questionable motives, BUT, is it not important that the public has access to the actual legislation for a sufficient period of time that would allow them to peruse the bill and contact their senators and representatives BEFORE they vote on it.

[Littlewords]

03:17 AM on 09/25/2009

Roberts, winner of this season's "see my shame" award.

[poobah]

11:07 PM on 09/24/2009

Just what influence are lobbyists supposed to have on legislation. Notice I said supposed to. If that is the case, why don't we cut out the middlemen and just seat the lobbyists directly in Congress. At least there we can get rid of them.

[cimbri]

10:25 PM on 09/24/2009

3 days to read a multi-trillion dollar hot mess. That's too much to ask for.

[CindyinEncinitas]

09:47 PM on 09/24/2009

Hey RGE Politics-you're a tool. You are the problem. You are using this forum to spout conservative talking points. Shut up and let the adults do their work.