Health bill could get 34-hour reading in Senate

The Washington Times ^ | 11-19-09 | Joseph Curl

[rawhide]

The 2,074-page Senate health care bill would take 34 hours to read cover to cover -- and that's just what Sen. Tom Coburn wants done on the Senate floor.

The Oklahoma Republican has threatened to invoke parliamentary rules to force the Senate clerk (or more likely, a team of clerks) to read the massive bill before the full Senate begins formal debate on the legislation.

The move is strictly according to Senate rules, which say any senator can demand a bill be read in its entirety before debate begins. While Democrats could, if they wish, repeatedly make motions to end the soliloquy, Republicans on the floor could object, and the reading would continue.

What's even more interesting is that Senate Rule XIV (paragraph 2) states that every bill and joint resolution "shall receive three readings prior to its passage."

"Upon demand of a senator, these readings shall be on three different legislative days," the rules say.

[Dewey Revoltnow]

And thats if you can make sense of the gobbledygook on the first time through.

[ripley]

Excuse me, Mr. Clerk....would you repeat that last passage, slowly, please?

Thank you.

[6SJ7]

I suppose it would be considered torture if they read the healthcare bill to the Gitmo detainees.

[nina0113]

Get some Southrons to read it, and we can stretch that out to 68 hours, easy.

[Cyber Liberty]

I wish I had a nickel for every time someone’s promised to do this, then subsequently fold up after an hour or two under pressure from the Dems.

[Mount Athos]

i hope they pick someone who stutters