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Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing them

Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing them


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Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

1. Regarding your self-enforcing point, opponents already criticize people now for what they vote for so it wouldn't be any different.

As of right not it is not illegal for a politician to vote for a bill without first reading it. That would change if it was made illegal to vote for a bill without first reading it.

2. Regarding your political commentator point, a lot of elected officials don't get interviewed regularly by the press and if a question is about something obscure then the politician may have forgotten about it if it's just a trivial fact.

I sure some of the politicians who seemed to have a problem with reading bills would be the first ones to be interview or at least "coerced" into a interview.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

As of right not it is not illegal for a politician to vote for a bill without first reading it. That would change if it was made illegal to vote for a bill without first reading it.



I sure some of the politicians who seemed to have a problem with reading bills would be the first ones to be interview or at least "coerced" into a interview.

1. How would a person's opponent know they didn't read it? They could only criticize the fact of which side they voted which already happens now.

2. There are 535 members of Congress do you expect even a majority of people to be interviewed every time there is a new bill?
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

1. How would a person's opponent know they didn't read it?
They could only criticize the fact of which side they voted which already happens now.

Someone claiming to support something signs a bill that has something in it that contradicts his alleged view would be a indicator that person voted for a bill he didn't read. Questions would arise either he is a liar and hypocrite or he didn't read the bill.If he admits to not reading the bill then he would face being thrown in jail.IF he admits he is a hypocrite his rivals would use it against him in the primaries or his opponents would use it as ammo against him.

2. There are 535 members of Congress do you expect even a majority of people to be interviewed every time there is a new bill?
Start with the ones who have a history of claiming to not have read the bill or the whole bill and then work down to the ones who sign bills that have something in them they are ideologically opposed to.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Someone claiming to support something signs a bill that has something in it that contradicts his alleged view would be a indicator that person voted for a bill he didn't read. Questions would arise either he is a liar and hypocrite or he didn't read the bill.If he admits to not reading the bill then he would face being thrown in jail.IF he admits he is a hypocrite his rivals would use it against him in the primaries or his opponents would use it as ammo against him.


Start with the ones who have a history of claiming to not have read the bill or the whole bill and then work down to the ones who sign bills that have something in them they are ideologically opposed to.

Your first point happens now it wouldn't be any different. Besides, you could just read the first page and say you like what's on it and that would get you off the hook for reading the whole bill since you have a reason as to why you like. Also, who would the politician speak to about the bill? The press? He could refuse to speak to them.

Once again, you won't be able to interview everyone who's against this idea everytime there's a new bill.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

It's their job to read a bill and make a decision that is best suited to help the American people while following the constitution. If they have not read the bill, then how can they know if they are making a decision based on their job description? Maybe the more important question is shouldn't a bill in it's final form have a full week to be reviewed before it can be voted on?
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

It's their job to read a bill and make a decision that is best suited to help the American people while following the constitution. If they have not read the bill, then how can they know if they are making a decision based on their job description? Maybe the more important question is shouldn't a bill in it's final form have a full week to be reviewed before it can be voted on?

Your absolutely right but this idea could never be put into law and be enforced.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Your absolutely right but this idea could never be put into law and be enforced.

You are probably correct all tho it could be. A simple test given to all on each issue prior to voting. If they do not know enough about what is in the bill then they can not vote on said bill.

Most of the crap that goes threw washington is just BS and favors anyway. Cut out the BS and they should have plenty of time to actually read all bills that are important.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

You are probably correct all tho it could be. A simple test given to all on each issue prior to voting. If they do not know enough about what is in the bill then they can not vote on said bill.

Most of the crap that goes threw washington is just BS and favors anyway. Cut out the BS and they should have plenty of time to actually read all bills that are important.

A test? Who would administer the test? Who would create it?
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

A test? Who would administer the test? Who would create it?

The authors of the bill perhaps.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

The authors of the bill perhaps.

Good idea but the only problem may be that the author just asks questions about the best part of the bill not the not-so-good part that maybe other people won't like.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

The authors of the bill perhaps.

Let me quiz you a little bit. Who authors bills?
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Let me quiz you a little bit. Who authors bills?

I think he means the Congressman who introduces it but good point.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

You could look at previous comments or the rest of comment that you quoted but I'll repeat the problems with this idea again.

1. Congress would never vote this in.
2. It would take way too much time since there are a large number of bills that are hundreds of pages.
3. The only ways to enforce this are too time consuming.

Can people read more of a thread before they comment?

Those are reasons why this might not work.

That is not your explanation of "the system"

Since you seem to know how the system works and remind the rest of us that we are ignorant of it.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Those are reasons why this might not work.

That is not your explanation of "the system"

Since you seem to know how the system works and remind the rest of us that we are ignorant of it.

You still refuse to look at previous posts but ok. And by the way, what I listed was a result of how the government works.

What I meant by the system is that the way the government works Congressmen aren't responsible and aren't held accountable; Congressmen will find loopholes to things they don't feel like complying with; Congressmen won't vote for a bill that doesn't do something for them.

These are all obvious things I don't understand why it's so difficult for everyone who voted yes.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

You still refuse to look at previous posts but ok. And by the way, what I listed was a result of how the government works.

What I meant by the system is that the way the government works Congressmen aren't responsible and aren't held accountable; Congressmen will find loopholes to things they don't feel like complying with; Congressmen won't vote for a bill that doesn't do something for them.

These are all obvious things I don't understand why it's so difficult for everyone who voted yes.

The question was...

"Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing them?"

I don't recall the word "can" inserted anywhere in there.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

The question was...

"Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing them?"

I don't recall the word "can" inserted anywhere in there.

Why would you ask them to do something you know they won't do?
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Once again I like the idea I just don't think it would work.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Why would you ask them to do something you know they won't do?

There is the idea that with enough emails,phone calls,faxes and other things they might be forced into doing what we want them to do. ONe of those ideas at least the idea of posting the bill 72 hours before they vote on in it is being pushed.


Read The Bill: Endorsements


H.Res.554: Amending the Rules of the House of... OpenCongress

This resolution would require that the full text of House legislation and accompanying committee reports be continuously posted on the Internet. Moreover it seeks to establish a policy prohibiting the House from voting on legislation until 72 hours after its text is made available to Congress members and the general public.

The bill’s stated purpose is to enhance public participation and improve the quality of proposed legislation by ensuring the opportunity for its review by actors ranging from State officials to members of the public.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

There is the idea that with enough emails,phone calls,faxes and other things they might be forced into doing what we want them to do. ONe of those ideas at least the idea of posting the bill 72 hours before they vote on in it is being pushed.


Read The Bill: Endorsements


H.Res.554: Amending the Rules of the House of... OpenCongress

This resolution would require that the full text of House legislation and accompanying committee reports be continuously posted on the Internet. Moreover it seeks to establish a policy prohibiting the House from voting on legislation until 72 hours after its text is made available to Congress members and the general public.

The bill’s stated purpose is to enhance public participation and improve the quality of proposed legislation by ensuring the opportunity for its review by actors ranging from State officials to members of the public.

Ok, I never said posting it wouldn't work I said having them read the entire things wouldn't work...
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Ok, I never said posting it wouldn't work I said having them read the entire things wouldn't work...

Perhaps giving them adequate time to read a bill before voting on it is the first step.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Perhaps giving them adequate time to read a bill before voting on it is the first step.

One of many, I'm not going to repeat what I've said three times already so if you want to know why this won't work just look at previous posts.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

Ok, I never said posting it wouldn't work I said having them read the entire things wouldn't work...

A requirement to read every bit of legislation that crosses their desk before they vote on it would prevent any attempts to use "I didn't read it" as an excuse when confronted about how they voted on something.
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

A requirement to read every bit of legislation that crosses their desk before they vote on it would prevent any attempts to use "I didn't read it" as an excuse when confronted about how they voted on something.

No one uses "I didn't read it" now, they say things like "I thought it would turn out differently" or some other bs statement,
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

There is the idea that with enough emails,phone calls,faxes and other things they might be forced into doing what we want them to do. ONe of those ideas at least the idea of posting the bill 72 hours before they vote on in it is being pushed.


Read The Bill: Endorsements


H.Res.554: Amending the Rules of the House of... OpenCongress

This resolution would require that the full text of House legislation and accompanying committee reports be continuously posted on the Internet. Moreover it seeks to establish a policy prohibiting the House from voting on legislation until 72 hours after its text is made available to Congress members and the general public.

The bill’s stated purpose is to enhance public participation and improve the quality of proposed legislation by ensuring the opportunity for its review by actors ranging from State officials to members of the public.

James no how could you! Did you just suggest that the congress and senate should work for the people instead of it control the people? That would be following the constitution, we can't limit the governments power... if we do that we'll never be able to pay for such gems such as... Bridges to no where, socialized medicine, cap and trade. You know, concepts that other countries have tried and failed with like Spain or the entire continent of Australia? But that's off topic...
 
Re: Should politicians be required by law to read the bill themselves before signing

The bill’s stated purpose is to enhance public participation and improve the quality of proposed legislation by ensuring the opportunity for its review by actors ranging from State officials to members of the public.

Enhance public participation?

Like the participation that they will ignore?

Politicians these days call YOU and tell YOU which bill to support instead of ASKING you which bill to support.
 
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