UPDATE: Gohmert brings healthcare bill to Longview library

Following is a press release from Rep. Louis Gohmert's office

LONGVIEW - U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert's (R-TX) office printed and delivered two hard copies of Speaker Pelosi's 1,990 page healthcare bill to the Longview Public Library to ensure that as many citizens as possible have access to the text and can see for themselves what is buried in the mountain of legislation.
Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats held the bill's public unveiling on Thursday in Washington, D.C., but used barriers and staff armed with RSVP lists to prevent the public from attending. Rep. Gohmert called the lack of transparency surrounding the crafting of the legislation and its unveiling outrageous. He says he is therefore trying to bring light to the many provisions within the bill that he says will "raise taxes, raise health care costs, and add to our national debt, significantly hurting America¹s seniors, families and small businesses."

Gohmert went on to say, "Legislation that will literally transform the lives of every American - and I believe it will not be in a good way - should neither be crafted behind closed doors, nor should it blatantly ignore the voices of the people whose very lives it will transform. Despite months of tea parties, town halls, and honest feedback from many East Texans and people all over the country, Speaker Pelosi and the Majority Leadership have re-packaged and re-presented a government takeover of healthcare for which most Americans have already overwhelmingly expressed their rejection. I truly hope people will look for themselves at the dangers in this bill and URGE their family and friends to continue to make their voices heard. Demand that Speaker Pelosi immediately drop any plan that lets the government takeover YOUR healthcare decisions."

The Congressman noted that the normal process for bills requires:
- A bill be presented at subcommittee
- Amendments be offered and voted on
- The final subcommittee bill be brought to full committee with plenty of notice and time for review, followed by an opportunity to offer amendments
- Presentation to the floor of the exact full committee bill as finally amended in committee for an opportunity to amend and vote on amendments
- A vote by the full House on that final bill.
Gohmert stated, "The Speaker not only skipped the subcommittee, she did not even bring forward the bill that had members of Congress and countless Americans reading it. She had undisclosed, special interests craft it in secret and thrust it on America with very little time to review the 1,990 pages. This brings change, but it sure kills hope."
East Texans may read the hard copies of the healthcare bill at:
Longview Public Library
Location: 222 W. Cotton St, Longview, 75601