Transparent candidate; opapue president, part II
COST praised candidate Obama for his commitment to transparency, but as a president he has failed miserably. If the 1200 page Waxman-Markey global warming bill passes through Congress and the president signs it, he will once again break his pledge to be the most transparent administration. The legislation, which the Wall Street Journal calls the largest tax increase in history, is being pushed through at lightning speed. Introduced this week, Speaker Pelosi wants a vote right now.
Republicans are right to call Democrats on breaking their pledge to be more transparent. Politico writes:
Republicans say Democrats are ramming their climate-change legislation through the House without enough time for members to read the bill — let alone to understand it — all in violation of their promises about creating a more transparent legislative process.
Furthermore, 300 of the 1200 pages were added late last night. How could any legislator read, let alone understand, the impact of this massive legislation in such a short period of time? The answer is they couldn’t; yet they are willing to increase the tax burden on American working families.
So much for transparency. This is a prime example of taxation without even knowing the information!
UPDATE: The House just passed 219-212. Reports say not one House member read the bill.