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The median family income for a family of four in the United States these days is approximately$56,500. Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and the Senate earn$179,000 annually. Each chambers leadership makes even more: $193,400. For this kind of money, taxpayers -- who pay these salaries -- might expect their elected representative to do their jobs.

They dont.

Legislators are paid towell, legislate. Legislating means crafting policy proposals, meeting with constituents, holding legislative hearings, and, ultimately, voting. High school students who come to Washington, D.C., still get copies of that perennial civics favorite,How A Bill Becomes A Law.But that brochure never discloses the reality of the American legislative process and how it differs significantly from that cheerful civics description.

That situation is what prompted Senator Rand Paul, R-Kentucky, to again propose legislation, timed just as Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell introduced a new GOP-sponsored health-care-reform bill, mandating that Senators first read legislation before they vote on it. If you are an elected representative, shouldnt there be a presumption that before you decide how to vote, you actually know what youre voting on? Its not acceptable for members just to be told by their partys Whip how they should vote as they enter the chamber.

One of the more revealing comments in this regard was made by then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who was commenting on the proposed Affordable Care Act. She remarkably said that, We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.

TheRead the Bills Act" was firstproposed in 2006. Senator Paul endorsed it in 2010 and proposedsimilar legislationin June 2012. If enacted, the bill would not only promote greater transparency in government by requiring that bills be posted publicly at least 72 hours before a vote, but it would also most certainly produce legislation that was clearer, more coherent, and much shorter.

The new Senate Republican health care proposal is 142 pages long. CNNs Wolf Blitzer asked Senator John Cornyn, R-Texas, on June 22 whether he had read the new proposal. Senator Cornyn held up the bound text, said that he hadnt yet read it, but announced that given its relative brevity, he planned to read the bill that evening. By contrast, the Obama administrations 2010 Affordable Care Act contained some2,700 pages, roughly the length of Marcel ProustsIn Search of Lost Time,one of the longest novels ever written. How many elected officials read that bill?

Is it really asking too much of our well-paid public servants in Washington to take the time to read and understand legislation before they vote on it? One of the more revealing comments in this regard was made by then Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi who was commenting on the proposed Affordable Care Act. She remarkablysaid that,We have to pass the bill so that you can find out what is in it.At least she was being candid.

Pelosis remark, however, stands in sharp contrast to what Congress expects from others. For example, the 2003Sarbanes-Oxley Act(intended to protect investors from fraudulent accounting practices)requiresthat chief executives and chief financial officers of publicly traded companies certify with each quarterly-earnings report that they have read their report and that it is accurate. Failure to do so can result in stiff civil penalties and, under certain circumstances, criminal liability. A health-care bill that impacts nearly18percentof the countrys gross domestic product has the potential for creating far more harm than almost any corporate quarterly earnings report imaginable.

So why do so many members of Congress not take the time to read bills before they vote? Its probably not because they are lazy. These men and women are typically Type A, driven individuals. Its probably not because they are stupid or have short attention spans. You dont get to serve in Congress -- at least for very long -- if you are intellectually challenged.

The answer is much simpler: they dont have enough time. And the one reason they dont have enough time is because they spend an inordinate amount of their time dialing for dollars to fund their next reelection campaign. Some members of Congress have confessed to spending more than40 percent of their time raising money. American taxpayers, in effect, are subsidizing nonstop electioneering in a manner that precludes their elected representatives from doing their real jobs.

We need an overhaul of how our Congress works, and we can start by mandating that members certify that they have read legislation before they vote on it. Perhaps a more comprehensive bill, theMaking Congress Work for the American People Act,(withWorkhaving more than one meaning) should be considereda bill that addresses the multiple dysfunctions of our Congress. This legislation could include: (1) banning all fundraising by members whenever Congress is in session, (2) withholding pay from all members if appropriations bills are not completed on time, (3) posting all legislation publicly at least 72 hours before a vote, (4) using technology to track changes in the legislative drafting process to allow more public scrutiny and accountability, (5) extending the Congressional workweek beyond what has now become a routine three days, and (6) having fewer and shorter Congressional recesses.

Something tells me that members of Congress would read every word of this proposed bill. When traditional American pragmatism and common sense merge with todays resurgent populism on the left and the right, it is likely that members of Congress will change their ways and start delivering for the American people andnot just for themselves.

Charles Kolb is CEO of DisruptDC. From 1990-1992, he served as Deputy Assistant to the President for Domestic Policy in the George H.W. Bush White House, and from 1997-2012, he was president of the Committee for Economic Development.

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Sen. Rand Paul's 'Read the Bills Act' - Is it really too much to ask members of Congress to read legislation before ... - Fox News

This is a rush transcript from "Fox News Sunday," July 2, 2017. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated.

JOHN ROBERTS, FOX NEWS HOST: Im John Roberts, in for Chris Wallace.

While President Trump fights to fulfill a major campaign promise, repealing and replacing ObamaCare, the administration scored victories this week on immigration and upholding the travel ban.

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

JEFF SESSIONS, U.S. SECRETARY OF STATE: They've been reviewed (ph). So, I think it was a great victory for the president.

DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: Health care is working along very well. We can have a big surprise with a great health care package.

ROBERTS (voice-over): Well break down the president's agenda going forward with Marc Short, President Trumps director of legislative affairs. It's a "Fox News Sunday" exclusive.

(on camera): Then, with a growing number of Republican senators opposing the partys ObamaCare replacement plan, the president is now considering an immediate repeal and replacement later.

SEN. BEN SASSE, R-NEBRASKA: Every Republican in the U.S. Senate except for one has already voted for repeal in the past, let's do that first.

SEN. RAND PAUL, R-KENTUCKY: And now you have two bills, boom, you get it done in five minutes. The president seems open and interested in the idea.

ROBERTS (voice-over): Well discuss what Congress can do to repeal ObamaCare and get a replacement passed with Republican Senator Rand Paul and Democratic Senator Joe Manchin.

Senators Paul and Manchin only on "Fox News Sunday."

Plus, the president shifts focus off of the agenda, creating a media firestorm with several tweets attacking cable news hosts. Well ask our Sunday panel if the president's tweets are hurting his agenda.

All right now on "Fox News Sunday."

(END VIDEOTAPE)

ROBERTS: And hello again from Fox News in Washington.

Senate Republicans have yet to bring their ObamaCare replacement to the floor for vote. Some suggesting separating repeal and replacement as two different bills.

Well, now, a group of senators is calling on Leader McConnell to shorten or altogether cancel the upcoming August recess in order to make meaningful progress on several legislative issues including health care.

Joining us now to discuss the administration's agenda, President Trumps director of legislative affairs, Marc Short. And we should point out that this is Marc Shorts very first appearance on any Sunday show.

So, we are glad to have you here.

MARC SHORT, WHITE HOUSE LEGISLATIVE AFFAIRS DIRECTOR: Thanks for having me.

ROBERTS: You are the man who is tasked with being the foot soldier between the White House and Congress in terms of getting the presidents agenda through, where are we really with health care?

SHORT: Look, John, were getting close. The American people know that ObamaCare is failing. They know that insurance rates have continued to skyrocket. They know that insurers are fleeing markets. And last year alone, 83 insurers have left the market. People know that this is a dramatic situation.

ROBERTS: So, how --

SHORT: It's a crisis. Where we are is the president this weekend is continuing to make calls to members to try to get the Senate package across the finish line. We believe that our package will help to lower premium cost, help provide better quality care for patients and returns the relationship between the patient and his or her doctor without the government being in the middle.

ROBERTS: So, when you say were getting, how close are you?

SHORT: Well, look, weve gone through a long process in the House and got it completed and passed in the House. We now are in the Senate where theres been obviously a lot of procedural delays in this process. We are at the point of scoring two separate bills throughout the course of this recess this week. So, we hope that we come back the week after recess, well have a vote.

ROBERTS: Lets talk about these two bills, because you mentioned this to me earlier in the week. Youve got two different bills, variations on the same theme, that are going to go to Congressional Budget Office for scoring. Whats in those bills?

SHORT: Well, so, whats in the bill is that it will help to get rid of the individual mandate. It will get rid of taxes to make this easier on the American people. One thing that raises rates so much, John, thats really less understood in America is when you're on individual exchanges. The mandates the federal government puts on are so ridiculous that men are forced to carry coverage for mammograms, women are forced to carry coverage for prostate issues, it's absurd. And the American people know this. Were going to get rid of many of those regulations and mandates to lower cost.

ROBERTS: What's the difference between the two bills that are going to go (INAUDIBLE)?

SHORT: One has an amendment, thats called the Consumer Freedom Act that Senator Cruz and Senator Lee have offered that will help continue to reduce those regulations. And one is being scored without.

But let's talk about the CBO scoring for a second, because CBO scoring has indicated when they initially scored ObamaCare that 25 million people will be on the ObamaCare exchanges. In fact, there are only 10 million. So, when the press reports that 22 million people are going to lose coverage, it's a ridiculous number. Of that 22 million, seven million --

ROBERTS: But the press has only reported what the CBO says.

SHORT: They reported what CBO says but the CBO credibility should be certainly -- should be questioned at this point. Seven million of those people are people that don't exist. Theyre people that is based upon a baseline that CBO put out in 2014, even though the actual number is way down here.

There's another 7 million people they say will choose to leave the market that they say are losing insurance. That's not losing, that's choosing.

ROBERTS: And yet --

SHORT: And take another 4 million people in Medicaid and they say that's 4 million people who get Medicaid today will choose, if they don't have a mandate, to leave. That's 18 million people right there, John.

ROBERTS: And yet, you keep on submitting these bills to CBO for scoring because I know thats the process.

But let me ask you about this, this idea to repeal ObamaCare and then replace it at a later date. This is something the president even suggested. Ben Sasse of Nebraska and Rand Paul of Kentucky are both suggesting it. Will that even fly because Leader McConnell is saying, thanks but no thanks?

SHORT: Well, look, John, just in December of 2015, 49 current senators, as Ben Sasse has told you, 49 of the senators supported repeal. And if provided --

ROBERTS: Because they knew it would never become law.

SHORT: Well, I think that's a pretty tough messaging to go back to your constituents and say, I actually voted for it because I knew it wouldnt become law. I think they are pretty committed to knowing how much ObamaCare is failing. The last 15 or 18 months, it's only gotten worse. Premiums have only gotten higher.

In Nevada alone, two more insurers pulled out this week. So, now, in 18 counties in Nevada, 14 have no insurer next year. It's a true crisis and we need to do something about it.

ROBERTS: Yet, Dean Heller is saying, no way Im signing on this bill.

SHORT: Well, you know, look, I think Dean Heller voted for that repeal effort and the way that we look at is to say if the replacement part is too difficult for pulpits to come together, then let's go back and take care of the first step in repeal.

And even those 49, there's another member, Todd Young from Indiana, who when he was in the House voted for the bill, too. So, you have 50 members on record having voted for that recently. So, that's an option.

And then, at that point, if you've repeal it, you can come back with a replacement effort that could be more bipartisan.

ROBERTS: Are you concerned, though, that if you did do it in two pieces, you did replace first, then you did replacement later, that you might end up with repeal and never get around to replacing it?

SHORT: Look, John, we stated in our preferences is to pass the bill the Senate has right now. Thats what we think needs to be done. We think that help solve many of the problems Americans are facing.

And there are other legislative vehicles going on at the same time. Just last week the House passed Med Now which helps to limit the amount of lawsuits. So, it helps us to actually lower premiums. So, there's actions going on. This is not a one-size-fits-all.

ROBERTS: Senator Schumer is saying, hey, come work with us. Listen to what he said earlier in the week.

(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)

SEN. CHUCK SCHUMER, D-NY, MINORITY LEADER: I challenge them again: invite all of us to Blair House, the first day we get back from recess. If you think were not serious? Try us.

Democrats are ready to turn the page of health care. When will my Republican friends realize it's time for them to do the same?

(END VIDEO CLIP)

ROBERTS: Marc, the president says over and over again that the Democrats are nothing but obstructionists. Were not going to get a single Democratic vote to repeal and replace ObamaCare. There's the offer from the Senate majority leader.

SHORT: John, the Senate -- the president is absolutely right.

ROBERTS: The Senate minority leader, right.

SHORT: The president is absolutely right. They have been obstructionists. Weve heard from senators who have said, look, we know the markets are collapsing. We know people are losing insurance. It's devastating our state.

I can't be with you on repeal because that was one of President Obama's signature accomplishments, but we can be with you on replace. So, if this is the route we go, then there's that opportunity.

But it's quite just ingenuous I think for Senator Schumer to talk about getting together when today, right now today, we had 49 members of our folks that we put up for Senate confirmation approved. At the same point in Obama's administration on July 1st, he had 179. We have one quarter -- what Senator Schumer has often said rather disingenuously is to say its because we are not getting nominees. We have 133 nominees sitting in front of the Senate right now waiting to get hearings in order so they can get confirmation.

So, Senator Schumer might talk about bipartisanship, but he has no interest in bipartisanship whatsoever.

ROBERTS: So, back to the Republicans. So, weve got Sasse and weve got Rand who are pushing this idea of repeal first, replace later. Yet, at the same time, you got Senator Cruz of Texas and Senator Lee of Utah who are saying, well, we've got some other ideas. And they are trying to process forward.

Are you worried that theyll push it so far to the right that you're going to lose a lot of those moderates that you need to have?

SHORT: No, not at all. We support Senator Cruz and Senator Lees efforts. This is similar to efforts that transpired in the House and we think it's perfectly appropriate, his amendment. And so, we hope it's part of the process and bringing everybody together.

ROBERTS: Tax reform, the president has been many, many times that you need to do health care first so you get a bigger pot of money for tax reform. The Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin says, no, we can probably do tax reform without doing ObamaCare reform first. Which is it and what's the timetable for this?

SHORT: John, we looked at them both this year, thats the bottom line. We plan to get health care completed in the summer. We looked to move to tax reform in the fall. We look to complete it before the end of the year.

ROBERTS: And do you need to do health care reform first?

SHORT: We need to do both, John. The American people are getting crushed by the ObamaCare taxes and we need tax reform in this country because we need to get the economy growing again. It has suffered for far too long and dismal growth ever since the recession in 2008-2009. What will provide growth is tax relief and were going to get to it this year.

ROBERTS: One of the big issues is whether or not you do tax reform thats deficit neutral so that after 10 years, it can become permanent or whether it's more important to do tax cuts first. So, which part of that is more important, deficit neutral or getting the tax cuts?

SHORT: Whats most important is get the economy growing so people get back to work.

ROBERTS: So, that means tax cuts?

SHORT: That -- in our mind, that means tax relief. But there's also an idea that Senator Toomey has put out that suggests that the budget window can be moved from 10 years to 20 years, which I think is an attractive option to allow us to do that. But we are focused on getting Americans back to work. And, John, that's why unemployment today -- because of the many regulatory relief that this president provided, it's down to 4.3 percent. The lowest it's been in 16 years.

ROBERTS: I want to ask about the presidents tweets, because it's not necessarily in your wheel house, but it does kind of crossed into your area because youve got have to deal with all those folks on Capitol Hill who very often are rolling their eyes over what the president tweets and have said, Mitch McConnell has said he's not particularly fond of it. We saw with Susan Collins and others said about the presidents tweet regarding Mika Brzezinski.

Does he make your job more difficult with what he does?

SHORT: Look, John, I don't recall during the presidential campaign, many members in Congress being excited by the presidents tweets and he won the campaign. Congressional approval rating is about 11 percent or 12 percent right now. The president knows that he needs to get around the mainstream media to get his story out.

And part of that story is actually what we've accomplished on Capitol Hill. This is the first administration to get a Supreme Court justice confirmed in the first 100 days since 1881. He signed 42 bills into law to date. Fourteen of those under Congressional Review Act helped to roll back the burdensome Obama regulation.

ROBERTS: So, youre saying its not a problem?

SHORT: It actually helps to now -- the CRA repealing much of that legislation has enabled the economy to save $18 billion in compliance cost. We just passed the V.A. Accountability Act, the president signed and delivered on yet another promise to the American people. He signed the omnibus bill that begin to rebuild the military and to build the border wall.

ROBERTS: So, despite diverting from his agenda or so, it would seem at least in the public view from time to time, you're still getting done what you need to get done?

SHORT: Were getting done what we need to get done in record pace. And the American -- the president is focused on returning jobs to the American people.

ROBERTS: Theres one other thing I want to ask you quickly before we run out of time here and again, this isnt in your wheelhouse but it does cross over to some degree. This election -- the commission, the Presidential Commission on Election Integrity that the president has set up, secretaries of state of at least 27 states have said, were not going to give you the voter data that you want because we don't think that this is a legitimate quest. And to some degree, some secretaries of state are suggesting that the president is just seeking to legitimize the claim that he made earlier this year about the fact that he lost the popular vote because of massive election fraud.

What do say to the secretaries of state, including some Republicans like Delbert Hosemann of Mississippi?

SHORT: John, there's nothing more important than ensuring the integrity of the American vote. One man, one vote. The vice president of the United States is leading this commission. It's a bipartisan commission.

This information is publicly available, but wouldn't be great if the secretary of state were willing to apply and be part of this to ensure the voter integrity of the United States? I don't think that's too much to ask.

ROBERTS: Well, Mississippi secretary of state, again, Delbert Hosemann, has invited you all to jump in the Gulf of Mexico, which at this time of year wouldn't be a bad idea.

(LAUGHTER)

ROBERTS: Marc Short, thanks for joining us today.

SHORT: John, thanks for having me.

ROBERTS: And welcome to the Sunday show.

SHORT: Have a wonderful Independence Day.

ROBERTS: Thank you. You, too.

Coming up next, Senators Rand Paul and Joe Manchin on where things stand on health care reform in the Senate.

(COMMERCIAL BREAK)

ROBERTS: Efforts to repeal and replace ObamaCare stalled this week when Republicans delayed a vote on their plan, putting it off until after their return from the Fourth of July recess. Will they have enough votes, though, to pass the bill?

In a few minutes, well be joined by Democratic Senator Joe Manchin of West Virginia. But first, joining us now is Republican Senator Rand Paul, whos among a group of Republicans opposing the current bill, and has some ideas on how to get repeal and replacement through.

Senator Paul, good to talk to you this morning.

Let me start off with a tweet that the presidents in earlier, which was actually what convinced her to come on the July 4th weekend. The president tweeting, quote: If Republican senators are unable to pass what they're working on now, they should immediately repeal and then replace at a later date.

The president appears to be listening to you. You mentioned this to him on Wednesday, though your colleague from Nebraska, Ben Sasse, is also claiming credit for this. But Senator McConnell has said thanks, but no thanks.

So, will this idea even fly?

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Sen. Rand Paul on push to repeal then replace ObamaCare - Fox News

As a White House official insisted Sunday that the Senate is on the verge of passing a bill to repeal and replace Obamacare, a key opponent of the bill said exactly the opposite.

Were getting close, White House Director for Legislative Affairs Marc Short said on Fox News Sunday. We hope that [when senators] come back the week after [their July 4th] recess, well have a vote.

But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), one of the main conservative critics of the bill as currently written, suggested on the same show the legislation should be junked and process of writing it begun anew.

I dont think were getting anywhere with the bill we have, Paul said. Were at an impasse.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell delayed a vote until after the recess, saying he and his leadership team are still working toward getting at least 50 people in a comfortable place to vote for the bill.

Paul argued that the Senate should pass two bills one to repeal the Affordable Care Act that President Barack Obama shepherded through Congress, and another to replace it with the GOPs alternative.

Paul said the current bill has become the kitchen sink, and is lit up like a Christmas tree full of billion-dollar ornaments.

Paul did say that he hopes the Senate can get health care legislation passed before Congress takes its August recess.

Originally posted here:
White House Says Health Care Vote Is Close; Rand Paul Says Not So Much - HuffPost

Sen. Rand Paul said Thursday that the health care bill should be split into two pieces of legislation in order to pass an Obamacare repeal.

"I think if we take this bill and split it into two pieces, we pass one that is more, looks like repeal that conservatives like. And then the other one you load up with all kinds of Christmas ornaments and gifts and money and just pile money on it that the Democrats will vote for and some of the Republicans will vote for," the Kentucky Republican said in an interview on MSNBC's "Morning Joe."

Paul predicts that "both [would] end up passing" if Senate Republicans pursued that path."It may not be completely good for the country, but you at least get the repeal that way," Paul added.

The repeal bill, he said, could repeal Obamacare's taxes and regulations and include Medicaid reform, but he said it would be "much narrower" and "much cleaner."

Paul reiterated that he doesn't "support the current bill and won't vote for it unless it changes or gets better." He was among the first few Senate Republicans to come out against the Better Care Reconciliation Act (BCRA) last week.

In the interview Thursday, Paul admitted that "half of the Republicans hate it," in addition to all of the Democrats. Republicans technically need 51 votes to pass the legislation, but one vote can be Vice President Mike Pence's tie-breaking vote. That means leadership needs at least 50 Senate Republicans to back it, and assuming all Democrats vote against it, Republicans can only afford two defections. The Senate currently has 52 Republicans and 48 Democrats.

Paul said Thursday he supports a plan that would expand beyond Obamacare.

"I'm for letting every individual in the market join a co-op or a buying group and then they would be part of a large group, they'd be protected against pre-existing conditions. But they'd also be able to get a cheaper price," he said. "But this only works if you free up and get rid of the mandates and regulations. Because you have to legalize inexpensive insurance."

Senate leadership is aiming to produce a revised health care bill by Friday to send to the Congressional Budget Office to be scored over the July 4 recess.

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Rand Paul says splitting up health care bill could improve ...

Conservative Review

The statesmanship of Rand Paul Conservative Review In the ongoing health care debate, Senator Rand Paul, R-Ky., has emerged as the most consistent champion of and advocate for real repeal of Obamacare. One of the select few conservatives in the U.S. Senate pushing against the current GOP health care ... Trump suggests just repeal Obamacare, then try to replace itTribune-Review Senate asks for CBO score on Cruz's healthcare proposalThe Hill Trump wades into healthcare fight amid wavering Republican supportWashington Examiner Slate Magazine (blog) -KOLO -Politico all 142 news articles »

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The statesmanship of Rand Paul - Conservative Review