LoBiondo gives health care bill to local libraries

HARRISON TWP. It's 1,992 pages long, weighs close to 20 pounds when printed on single-sided paper, and U.S. Rep. Frank LoBiondo wants the health care bill read carefully.

On Monday, LoBiondo made stops at libraries around his district and dropped off copies of the proposed legislation which could be up for a vote by the end of this week.

"It's probably the most important piece of legislation," LoBiondo, R-2nd Dist., of Ventnor, said as he stood outside the Gloucester County Public Library on Wolfert Station Road. "I think it's safe to say it will affect everybody in America."

LoBiondo dropped off two copies of the bill, each one filling three large binders, at libraries in the seven counties in his district.

"A bill of this size is easier to have in hard-copy," said Robert Wetherall, director of the county's library system. "This is where people come for information. Libraries are a natural place to come for this type of information."

Wetherall said the binders will be available to anyone wishing to stop in and read the bill.

LoBiondo said he just received the updated version of HR-3962 a Democrat-proposed bill known as The Affordable Health Care for America Act on Friday.

"I'm still going through it," he admitted. "You need so many sources of reference material as you're reading it."

The Republican congressman questioned the urgency to get such a massive bill, which he said represents up to $1.3 trillion in spending, to a vote.

"The biggest thing Congress is doing in 100 years shouldn't be done this quickly," said LoBiondo. "It's a massive effort that requires close attention. I think it's a disadvantage."

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