White House Changes the Terms of a Campaign Pledge About Posting Bills Online

[Javaman]

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/us/politics/22pledge.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

During the presidential campaign, Barack Obama promised that once a bill was passed by Congress, the White House would post it online for five days before he signed it.

“When there’s a bill that ends up on my desk as president, you the public will have five days to look online and find out what’s in it before I sign it, so that you know what your government’s doing,” Mr. Obama said as a candidate, telling voters he would make government more transparent and accountable.

When he took office in January, his team added that in posting nonemergency bills, it would “allow the public to review and comment” before Mr. Obama signed them.

Five months into his administration, Mr. Obama has signed two dozen bills, but he has almost never waited five days. On the recent credit card legislation, which included a controversial measure to allow guns in national parks, he waited just two.

[msongs]

1. campaign promises are not meant to be honored and kept after the fact nt

[Eric J in MN]

2. What we really need is at least 10 business days between the final version of a bill...

...and the vote on it, during which the bill is online.


John Edwards proposed something like that in 2004.

[bluestateguy]

3. It's a process issue. Only policy wonks, interest groups and newspaper editorial boards care.

In any event, people who are resourceful can find a bill passed by Congress on the congressional website.

[Bluenorthwest]

4. So his word means nothing, and that is fine and dandy?

I see.