U.S. Congressman Louie Gohmert’s (R-Tyler) office printed and delivered hard copies of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s 1,990-page healthcare bill to five East Texas public library across his First Congressional District to ensure that as many citizens as possible have access to the text and can see for themselves what is buried in the mountain of legislation.

Speaker Pelosi and House Democrats held the bill’s public unveiling last week in Washington, D.C., but used barriers and staff armed with RSVP lists to prevent the public from attending. Rep. Gohmert called the lack of transparency surrounding the crafting of the legislation and its unveiling “outrageous.” He is therefore trying to bring light to the many provisions within the bill that he says will “raise taxes, raise health care costs, and add to our national debt, significantly hurting America’s seniors, families and small businesses.”

Gohmert went on to say, “Legislation that will literally ‘transform’ the lives of every American — and I believe it will not be in a good way — should neither be crafted behind closed doors, nor should it blatantly ignore the voices of the people whose very lives it will ‘transform.’ Despite months of tea parties, town halls, and honest feedback from many East Texans and people all over the country, Speaker Pelosi and the Majority Leadership have re-packaged and re-presented a government takeover of healthcare for which most Americans have already overwhelmingly expressed their rejection. I truly hope people will look for themselves at the dangers in this bill and URGE their family and friends to continue to make their voices heard. Demand that Speaker Pelosi immediately drop any plan that lets the government takeover YOUR healthcare decisions.”

The Congressman noted that the normal process for bills requires:

- A bill be presented at subcommittee

- Amendments be offered and voted on

- The final subcommittee bill be brought to full committee with plenty of notice and time for review, followed by an opportunity to offer amendments

- Presentation to the floor of the exact full committee bill as finally amended in committee for an opportunity to amend and vote on amendments

- A vote by the full House on that final bill.

Gohmert stated, “The Speaker not only skipped the subcommittee, she did not even bring forward the bill that had members of Congress and countless Americans reading it. She had undisclosed, special interests craft it in secret and thrust it on America with very little time to review the 1,990 pages. This brings change, but it sure kills hope.”

East Texans may read the hard copies of the healthcare bill at the following 5 locations:

Tyler Public Library

Location: 201 S. College Ave, Tyler, 75702

Hours: M-F: 10am-7pm; Sat 10am-5pm; Sun 10am-5pm

Longview Public Library

Location: 222 W. Cotton St, Longview, 75601

Hours: M, W, F: 10am-6pm; T & Thrs: 10am-9pm; Sun: 1pm-5pm

Lufkin Public Library

Location: 706 S Raguet St, Lufkin, 75904

Hours: M: 10am-7pm; T - Thrs: 9am-6pm; Fr: 9am – 5:30pm; Sat: 9am-1pm

Marshall Public Library

Location: 300 S Alamo Blvd, Marshall, 75670

Hours: M-Th: 10am-8pm; Fr & Sat: 10am – 5:30pm

Nacogdoches Public Library

Location: 1112 North St, Nacogdoches, 75961

Hours: M&Th: 9:30am-8pm; T,W, & Fr: 9:30am-5:30pm; Sat: 10am-3pm

East Texans may also go to Congressman Gohmert’s website to read the bill online and to learn more information about the healthcare plan at www.gohmert.house.gov.