U.S. Sen. Jim Bunning's push for greater transparency in the health care overhaul legislation hit a roadblock Thursday afternoon after Sen. Barbara Mikulski, D-Md argued that the Kentucky Republican's amendment as submitted was out of order.

Bunning was trying to amend the Fiscal Year 2010 Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations bill to change Senate rules to require that all bills are made publicly available for 72 hours before being considered by the Senate or any of its committees.

Bunning introduced the measure Wednesday.

"It is outrageous that the Democrats would use procedural tactics to block full consideration of this simple rule change," Bunning said. "This is a slap in the face to the millions of Americans who have been clamoring for more transparency in Congress."