Around the web and especially on the blogs, there are articles about Max Baucus saying he did not read the healthcare bill that was passed by Congress. He was asked that question during his meeting with Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius when she was in Montana earlier this week.

By the way, the person asking this question should be given a medal or something.

So far, it’s not been a good term for Senator Baucus, but he is not up for reelection until 2014.

An article in The Hill blog basically tells the whole story with this Baucus answer:

“I don’t think you want me to waste my time to read every page of the healthcare bill,” Baucus said, according to the Flathead Beacon. “You know why? It’s statutory language. … We hire experts.”

Uh, yes we do, Senator. That was such a foolish answer that I just had to offer my commentary!

“We hire experts” was the funniest part. Constituents like me are probably wondering how many of these experts hired by Baucus and his Finance Committee probably have ties to the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry.

We may have an answer to that. It’s called the “revolving door” and OpenSecrets.org details what the revolving door is in Washington:

…a revolving door that shuffles former federal employees into jobs as lobbyists, consultants and strategists just as the door pulls former hired guns into government careers. While officials in the executive branch, Congress and senior congressional staffers spin in and out of the private and public sectors, so too does privilege, power, access and, of course, money.

Using that criteria, the Senate Finance Committee in which Baucus is the chairman, has 108 people identified. You can see that information HERE. Of course, not all of the 108 people worked for or are presently working for the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry, but there are several if you care to research it.

Also, on the OpenSecrets.org website we find:

The members of Congress shown here have the greatest number of staffers who either came to Capitol Hill after representing private interests or left the member’s staff for a lobbying position.

Max Baucus, himself, tallies 35 members – second most. You can view the information HERE (click on his name).

There’s no reason why members of Congress cannot read any bill before a vote is taken. We expect that. They get paid about $174,000 per year to do the job, which I imagine includes some reading in between the socializing with lobbyists, taking junkets, holding fundraisers, voting, etc.

We also expect them to use the incredible amount of taxpayer money they acquire for their personal office staff and the even more incredible amount of taxpayer money they attain for their committee staff to hire experts to guide them through some of the finer points, but not to read bills FOR THEM.

So, the next time you hear about a member of Congress saying “I wrote the bill for XXXX” you’ll know that it was probably written “by experts” and the member of Congress probably doesn’t know what’s in it – because they did not read the final product – or maybe any of it.

Sadly, the “expert” does know exactly what’s in it and they can stick in a few words, sentences, or paragraphs to pad their move from the government sector back to the private sector if they so chose.

That, my honorable readers, is just not the correct way to do things in Washington, D.C.