Washington – U.S. Senator Blanche Lincoln today announced that she will post the complete text of the proposed Senate health care reform legislation online as soon as it is available. The text will be posted on Lincoln’s existing Health Care Resources Page, online at www.lincoln.senate.gov/arkansas/healthcare.cfm.
“I’m looking forward to reviewing the bill when it becomes available, and I want to ensure that my constituents have the same opportunity. Over the past months, I have heard from many Arkansans who are frustrated and lack accurate information on the health care proposals in Congress. In response to their comments, I created my ‘Health Resources Page’ to streamline materials from my own website and other Congressional resources. I will continue to update this page with any materials relevant to the ongoing health reform proposals before Congress,” said Lincoln.
Last month, Lincoln led a group of Democratic Senators in pressuring Senate leaders for greater transparency in the health insurance reform debate. While Senate leaders have yet to guarantee her request that the bill be posted on a public website at least 72 hours prior to the first vote to proceed to health reform, she has made plans to post it on her own website as soon as it is available to Senators.
In addition to posting the original bill, she has requested that:
* The legislative text and complete costs of the health care bill as amended are made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage of the Senate bill;
* The legislative text of all amendments filed and offered for debate on the Senate floor are posted on a public website prior to beginning debate on the amendment;
* The final agreement between the House of Representatives and the Senate and complete costs of the final bill are made available to the public for 72 hours prior to the vote on final passage in the Senate.
