Bite Size is Good!

I have often wondered why Washington is obsessed with gargantuan sized legislation.  Why not try some bite sized lawmaking?  It seems that whenever we turn around there is some 700 to 1,500 page law being fought over in either house.  Not only does the sheer size of these bills increase the rankling, no one can take the time to read them.   Wouldn't it be wonderful to take a bill and break it down into segments of say, 200-300 pages.  Not only would there be no excuse not to read them, but with the extra time, the issues could be fully debated and considered.  There would be higher quality legislation produced and a much higher chance for bipartisan participation.  Cut the pie into reasonable slices and there'll be a piece for everyone.

Take health care for instance.  Couldn't this monster be carved into meaningful pieces?  Why not tackle tort reform first?   Nearly everyone can agree that the cost of defensive medicine is a key element in the high cost of health care in America.  Shave a piece off that deals with portability of policies across state lines.  Shave off another piece that deals with pre-existing conditions.  None of these things interferes with our current system but at some point you'll have enough pieces out there to make a whole pie.  In the meantime, our senators and congressmen will have some actual achievements under their belts, rather than a year's worth of bickering and conflict.  Approval ratings for congress will rise and something will have been done for the good of all Americans.  This pen thinks the pols should go back to the drawing board and start cutting the cake.