Stimulus Bill Too Lengthy to Read – But Not To Sign

By: Mark Knoller
Topics: Economy

4792740We've all been taught never to sign any document we haven't read. But that doesn't apply to the economic stimulus bill President Obama is signing today in Denver.

At 1,079 pages, the legislation hardly qualifies as a quick read.

Sure, President Obama has a good idea of what's in the bill, but he hasn't read it page for page, which is not unusual.

Rarely, if ever, does a president read a lengthy bill in its entirety before signing it into law.

So how does Mr. Obama know it's okay to sign?

"He has a team of the best legislative and economic experts in the country who advise him," says White House Deputy Press Secretary Bill Burton.

But mistakes do happen. Last May, Congress had to re-vote on the 1,768-page Farm Bill because 34 pages were missing from the version originally enacted into law.

If you want to read the stimulus bill for yourself, it's on the web at the Library of Congress website.

Type in the bill's number: H.R. 1.

The bill is even longer on the web – because it has about 670 pages of material that was struck out and replaced.

Or you can print a copy. It might make a nice belated Valentine's Day for someone. Or not.

Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.

Mark Knoller
Mark Knoller is a CBS News White House correspondent.
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by ramos1129 March 7, 2009 5:35 AM EST: Do you need/want to know what is in HR 1 but do not want to read the 1079 pages? Go online and download the Executive Summary segment. This segment summarizes the contents of the bill and is way much shorter. Why Mr. Knoller did not point this out, I do not know. Perhaps he does not know it is there.

BTW, all signed bills have (or should have) an Executive Summary.; Reply to this comment


by drygulchdave February 20, 2009 3:16 PM EST: What we have here is a perfect storm of arrogance, incompetence, corruption, and mismanagement. This stimulus package is so mind-numbing in its scope, that, like some kind of invasive weed, it will send out tendrils to every corner of our society and be impossible to eradicate. This bill hands out tens of millions, hundreds of millions, billions and tens of billions of dollars to an unbelievable array of government programs like it was candy. There are also multitudes of incentives to get businesses or people to do certain things. For example, there is an incentive program for companies to hire "disaffected" youth, which, paraphrasing, the bill defines as a young person age 16-25 years who does not go to school or work. In other words, someone without any marketable skills or the desire to obtain them. You'd have to have an incentive to hire some one like that.

This scope of this plan is shocking. And remember, where is the money coming from? The government has to either borrow it, tax it, or print it, all of which have serious negative ramifications down the road. Can't wait until the a hundred billion turns up missing. But what's a hundred billion among friends, right? Sit tight folks, it's going to be a rough 2009 and probably part of 2010 regardless of any stimulus or bailout. But it WILL get better and Obama will get to take credit, just about the time he'll be running for a 2nd term.; Reply to this comment


by joepack61 February 18, 2009 6:25 PM EST: Obama also promised to correct the problems of No Child Left Behind (NCLB). H.R.1. does not change a single line of NCLB, but funds it for over 20 billion. Why didn''t Obama pressure Congress to fix NCLB?; Reply to this comment


by joepack61 February 18, 2009 6:21 PM EST: H.R.1. mandates medical records. A CAT scan in the emergency room to rule out a condition that the attending surgeon doesn''t believe exits per his exam costs over $4,000. How will Electronic Medical Records (EMR) eliminate this waste? To the contrary, EMR could add waste and suffering. In one case, a man in his 30s had his colon cancer overlooked by doctors for years until he nearly died. The doctors said that his MEDICAL RECORDS did not indicate a history or profile for colon cancer. If anyone can tell me how EMR would have changed this story to one of timely and accurate medical treatment, I will reconsider my jaded view of EMR.

BTW check out the pork of H.R.1. at http://thomas.loc.gov/; Reply to this comment


by rm090213 February 18, 2009 3:27 PM EST: When did NAFTA begin?
Posted by waitn2ctruth at 10:54 PM : Feb 17, 2009

It was signed and enacted by Bill Clinton.

WHAT is Obama proposing to stop globalization after Clinton started it?

crickets chirping...; Reply to this comment


by briannorwood February 18, 2009 1:40 PM EST: jsutcurious:

Your doctor called. He wanted to know why you stopped taking your meds.; Reply to this comment


by jsutcurious February 18, 2009 12:54 PM EST: There are other creatures that eat their own young; They just don''t call it "The American Rape and Democratic Reinvestment Act."

Even "Joe the Moron" that voted for Obama probably has more virtue than their party that would destroy our country to have their way. Obama had the chance of a lifetime to prove himself righteous and not sell out to the crooks. Problem is, he''s one of them.

When the plan fails they should all be tried for treason, like they want to do to Bush, for destroying our future.

What do they want next? What are you going to let them take next???Hell and destruction are never full; so the eyes of man are never satisfied.

Don''t just complain-do something about it. Start a webpage, a calling campaign, a house meeting, a peaceful demonstration.; Reply to this comment


by swin5 February 18, 2009 3:44 AM EST: Looks like Obama will reach in 8 weeks the same level of public approval it took George W. 8 years to reach.

Again I ask, when the campaign shifted last summer over to an emphasis on economics, wasn''t it obvious then that Obama didn''t know what he was talking about? At least McCain admitted it.; Reply to this comment


by waitn2ctruth February 18, 2009 2:36 AM EST: Any bets on how long until the next bailout or stimulus?,,,,and WHO is in line next?

Posted by tincup356 at 11:24 PM : Feb 17, 2009

Why don''t we all get next line for stimulus by turning in 1040 forms (or whatever forms are needed) with a big fat zero on the line showing taxes owed? We can attach our own form stating we are keeping our money to stimulate the economy as we see fit.; Reply to this comment


by mihann February 18, 2009 2:27 AM EST: duffynight,
I believe you are blinded by your hatred and by the lies of the Democrats (who were blaming W. for everything) during Obama''s campaign when they blamed Bush for NAFTA. NAFTA was signed on 12/3/93 by a smiling, proud, President Bill Clinton. Actually, NAFTA was well in place by Bush''s first term. Duffynight, by quoting the left''s campaign lies, I suggest you take a close look at those whom you believe and parrot.; Reply to this comment