The New Media Journal | Democrats Fudge on Their 72-Hour Availability Promise on Healthcare

The New Media Journal | Democrats Fudge on Their 72-Hour Availability Promise on Healthcare: "House Republicans are accusing Democrats of breaking a pledge to make the healthcare legislation public for three days so they can resolve a feud between liberals and centrists over abortion provisions.

Lawmakers said the abortion compromise may not be included in the final version of the bill to be released as soon as Wednesday, called the “manager’s amendment.” Instead, it may be included in the “rule,” which is done the day before the vote. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) said Tuesday he did not consider that a violation of his pledge to have the bill language available for three days before a vote.

“We said the manager’s amendment we would give 72 hours for,” Hoyer said. “Obviously, we have had 72 hours on the bill. So I don’t think that is a violation.”

But Republican leaders accused Democrats of planning to sneak “closed-door” deals into the bill at the last minute. “If Democrats continue to add closed-door deals to their bill after their manager’s amendment has been introduced, they will break their 72-hour promise,” said Brad Dayspring, spokesman for House Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA). “What else might they include in the final version without Congress and the American people knowing about it?”

Centrists and liberals are at odds over language that some interpret as allowing federal funds to go toward abortions."