[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 40 (Thursday, March 18, 2010)]
[House]
[Page H1598]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           HEALTH CARE REFORM

  (Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. SAM JOHNSON of Texas. You know, even while the President tours 
the country saying it's time for an up-or-down vote on health care, the 
Speaker is attempting to bypass a vote altogether. As Newt Gingrich 
said, This Congress has gone from voting on bills without reading them 
to passing bills without voting on them. That is unconscionable and 
unconstitutional.
  It's time for an open and honest vote on health care.
  Let's vote on how the bill cuts Medicare, let's vote on how the bill 
actually hikes health costs. Let's vote on how the bill uses taxpayer 
dollars to fund abortions.
  But the Speaker can't do that. She's faced with the unfortunate 
inconvenience that some of her Members actually want to listen to their 
constituents and vote ``no.'' So now she intends to muscle through 
health care reform without an actual vote. That is just wrong.
  I will say it again: Congress has gone from voting on bills without 
reading them to passing bills without voting on them. America deserves 
better.

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