Gus Discusses Health Care Reform & Effort to Give the Public Time to Read Bills
On Monday morning Gus sat down with ABC Action News in Tampa to discuss the pending health care legislation and the need for greater government transparency:
Tampa Bay Congressman, Gus Bilirakis, (R-FL) says he has co-sponsored legislation that would mandate a 72 hour period between the time a bill is finalized until a vote.
"I think there should be a 72 hour waiting period so that it can be posted on the internet, so constituents get an opportunity to read the bill, so that members have an opportunity to read the bill and they should read the bill," Bilirakis told Reporter Kerry Kavanaugh.
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He says he will vote against a bill that calls for a public option.
...Like many Republicans, Bilirakis supports tort reform as a way to drive down the cost of medical liability insurance along with finding ways to save money by eliminating fraud in the system.
Gus is a co-sponsor of H. Res 554, which would require that legislation be available on the Internet for 72 hours before consideration by the House. In late September a petition was launched to bring H. Res. 554 up for a vote, which would ensure that the public, press, and members of Congress have at least 72 hours to read and understand bills in the House.
As of tonight, 182 House members have signed the bipartisan petition. 218 signatures are needed to force a vote on the measure. You can follow the progress of the petition by clicking here.
