I noticed, via Kos, a terrific column written by Rep. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) and published last week at TomPaine.com. Let’s call this one a must-read.
In the essay, Brown explains that the House of Representatives has “never before…operated in such secrecy.”
At 2:54 a.m. on a Friday in March, the House cut veterans benefits by three votes.
At 2:39 a.m. on a Friday in April, the House slashed education and health care by five votes.
At 1:56 a.m. on a Friday in May, the House passed the Leave No Millionaire Behind tax-cut bill by a handful of votes.
At 2:33 a.m. on a Friday in June, the House passed the Medicare privatization and prescription drug bill by one vote.
At 12:57 a.m. on a Friday in July, the House eviscerated Head Start by one vote.
And then, after returning from summer recess, at 12:12 a.m. on a Friday in October, the House voted $87 billion for Iraq.
Always in the middle of the night. Always after the press had passed their deadlines. Always after the American people had turned off the news and gone to bed….
And late last month, they did it again. The most sweeping changes to Medicare in its 38-year history were forced through the House at 5:55 on a Saturday morning.
Brown’s point, of course, is that the House Republican leadership’s penchant for secrecy is dangerous. It undermines the public trust by narrowly passing controversial legislation when GOP lawmakers hope no one’s looking. As Brown put it, “You can do a lot in the middle of the night, under the cover of darkness.”
The essay also reminded me, though, that if politicians in DC ever want to get away with something they’re not proud of, they’ll do it very late on a Friday.