CHESTERFIELD COUNTY -
The final health care reform bill could top 2,000 pages. That's a lot of detail for House members to pour over.
Ahead of a possible floor vote this weekend, CBS 6 wanted to find out if our four area congressmen had ready every page, and every word, of the lengthy document.
Congressman Tom Perriello, D-5th, acknowledged that he had read the bill in its entirety.
"Lord knows that no one would be happier than me if we made them a little shorter, but when you have something that involves such a huge part of the economy you want to do it right," he said.
Perriello added he's not a lock to vote for the current House version, but he certainly wants to see comprehensive health care reform passed soon.
Republican colleague, Randy Forbes, R-4th, who has vocally opposed the health care legislation in its current form, couldn't reach CBS 6 for an interview Friday.
However, his office issued a statement, noting "Congressman Forbes has a copy of the health care bill on his desk and has been reading it since it came out last week."
Neither Congressman Eric Cantor, R-7th, nor Congressman Bobby Scott, D-3rd, returned our requests for comment.
Local residents at Chesterfield County Library, where a copy of H.R. 3962 is available for public viewing, expressed skepticism about the ability of House members to review the bill in a few days.
"It should take years to read it and look at it seriously," observed one woman who didn't provide her name. "I think it's asinine."
Christina Buchanan worried the turnaround from the unveiling of the bill, on October 29, was too soon for a full vote this weekend.
"This is America's lifestyle and its money," declared Buchanan, "and I don't think it's a reasonable [time frame]."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi originally called for a vote on Saturday, but has since backed off the timing. Pelosi claims to have the 218 votes needed to pass the legislation.
If approved in the House, the bill would then move on to the Senate, which has its own version to debate.
Ahead of a possible floor vote this weekend, CBS 6 wanted to find out if our four area congressmen had ready every page, and every word, of the lengthy document.
Congressman Tom Perriello, D-5th, acknowledged that he had read the bill in its entirety.
"Lord knows that no one would be happier than me if we made them a little shorter, but when you have something that involves such a huge part of the economy you want to do it right," he said.
Perriello added he's not a lock to vote for the current House version, but he certainly wants to see comprehensive health care reform passed soon.
Republican colleague, Randy Forbes, R-4th, who has vocally opposed the health care legislation in its current form, couldn't reach CBS 6 for an interview Friday.
However, his office issued a statement, noting "Congressman Forbes has a copy of the health care bill on his desk and has been reading it since it came out last week."
Neither Congressman Eric Cantor, R-7th, nor Congressman Bobby Scott, D-3rd, returned our requests for comment.
Local residents at Chesterfield County Library, where a copy of H.R. 3962 is available for public viewing, expressed skepticism about the ability of House members to review the bill in a few days.
"It should take years to read it and look at it seriously," observed one woman who didn't provide her name. "I think it's asinine."
Christina Buchanan worried the turnaround from the unveiling of the bill, on October 29, was too soon for a full vote this weekend.
"This is America's lifestyle and its money," declared Buchanan, "and I don't think it's a reasonable [time frame]."
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi originally called for a vote on Saturday, but has since backed off the timing. Pelosi claims to have the 218 votes needed to pass the legislation.
If approved in the House, the bill would then move on to the Senate, which has its own version to debate.
