While I’m often critical of U.S. Senate candidate Dr. Eric Wargotz this time he makes a great point.
Dr. Eric Wargotz, candidate for the U. S. Senate, criticized Senator Barbara Mikulski for derailing a proposal to require that the substance and cost of Democratic healthcare reform legislation be posted on the Internet prior to a vote.
The proposal, offered by Senator Jim Bunning (R-KY), would have required that the legislative language and a final, complete cost analysis of the Democratic bill be made publicly available on the Senate Finance Committee’s website at least 72 hours prior to any Committee vote.
Senator Mikulski used an arcane parliamentary tactic to block consideration of the proposal on the Senate floor. This can be viewed here.
“Millions of Americans have concerns about how this legislation will impact their access to quality healthcare,” stated Dr. Wargotz. “Greater transparency promotes better government. It gives citizens additional tools to educate themselves.”
As President and Countywide member of the Queen Anne’s County Board of Commissioners, Dr. Wargotz spearheaded measures to promote greater transparency in county government. “This is a responsibility of elected officials across all levels of government. I cannot understand why Senator Mikulski would want to take her constituents in the opposite direction.”
“Senator Mikulski has made healthcare reform one of her signature issues during her three decade political career,” Dr. Wargotz continued. “Now that the debate is here, she has been largely missing. I find it ironic that she would only break her silence to block a proposal to empower her constituents to make informed decisions. She is beholden to the shadowy Washington politics of the past at a time when people want change.”
This criticism works well for a press release at this stage in the campaign because this is a fairly black-and-white issue – you’re either in favor of transparency or you’re not. Wargotz is and Mikulski is not, and that puts Barb on the wrong side of the issue as far as the majority of Americans (including the President, supposedly) feel.
It also points out the “politics-as-usual” aspect of Congress, which is another item rubbing Americans the wrong way. So Wargotz makes plenty of political points with this salvo against Mikulski; the hard part will be getting her to explain her side. I’d also like to know how she was the one selected to object – perhaps they think she has the safest seat on the committee? (Granted, she could’ve come up with that herself but that makes it even more questionable as to why she would object.)
Like forgotten leftovers in the back of the refrigerator, Mikulski’s a Senator who’s hung around long past her expiration date. It’s time to restock the shelf next November.
