WASHINGTON (CNN) – As Congress prepares for a weeklong recess next week, Democrats on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have armed themselves with a special weapon to deal with a possible Republican effort to delay getting a major piece of legislation out of committee by Memorial Day.
Democrats on the committee have hired a speed reader to read the more than 900-page climate change bill if necessary.
A request to have the entire bill read aloud is a prerogative Republicans have a right to invoke which could be used to frustrate Committee Chairman Henry Waxman's deadline of Memorial Day to get the committee's work on the bill done.
Even with the use of the speed reader, reading the entire bill could take the equivalent of more than a full work day of time.
–CNN Congressional Producer Deirdre Walsh contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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I bet that guy get paid megabucks. See? Obstructionism costs us money too.
Of course the Republicans would waste time and tax dollars having an entire bill read aloud. They care more about grandstanding than about making policy to over come our many serious challenges. Our government is just a game to Congressional Republicans.
What a WASTE of taxpayers money, Republicans.
NO – Just say NO! Enough cramming these expensive, wasteful and not thought out projects down our throats before we have a chance to say NO.
Why did NYT kill a story linking ACORN to Obama weeks before the election?
What, no Democrat postings on what a dirty trick it is for Republicans to actually want a bill to be read before voting on it? Maybe if they'd hired a speed reader for the stimulus bill, someone would have caught Chris Dodd's add-on for corporate bonuses.
This is the ultimate stupidy of politics. How much are we paying for this one?
Republicans are childish and petty!
We exhale CO2 if the Liberals really cared they would voluntarily stop breathing, for the good of the country and those less fortunate.
If this isn't a prime example of how screwed up our government is, I don't know what would be! Perhaps they .....Democrats and Republicans alike.....should remember why in the hell they're there and actually READ the bloody nonsense for themselves before they vote on it. Stunts like that are why the electorate is so disillusioned by those who claim to represent us. They don't represent us at all....they're too busy playing the gotcha and the oneupmanship game to care.
Wonder how much hiden pork is in this bill?
Sounds like change is needed for Congress,I prey that Mr. Oboma keeps his promise and post major bill's online.I think for 72 hours.Thies bill's should be view by all or those who care to read them.We really need to slow down and take a real good look on whats happening in America today.
The divisions in this country are getting deeper and deeper everyday.Time we as a country take a look at ourself's and ask,why so much hate?Maybie the Hippies had it right.Make love and not war.
i don't think you need to read the bill out loud, however there should be ample time for every member of congres to read all 900 pages. The idea that Senators vote for bills that they haven't even read is irresponsible. If reading it aloud is the only way to get it read then lets push back the artificial deadline and read it aloud at a normal pace. If congress actually reads these bills maybe we'll have few laws passed by they will be better.
A smart idea from congressional democrats...finally
lol
A more likely scenario is that Democrats just can't read, thus necessitating a reader.
For shame on the Republican side of the aisle – is this the level of nonsense to which you're now stooping? If you can't stand on the issues then stay out of the fight. Get out of my country, traitors.
Congress can't read the bills themselves? What are we paying them for?
Again, clear and transparent.!? Let Pelosi read it out loud or maybe Reid or maybe Biden, or maybe Dodd, or maybe Rangle or maybe Emanuel, or maybe, Geitner....at least they would be busy enough so they could not mess up anymore.
If Harry Reid would pledge to step down as the majority leader, I think the Democrats can re-elect him. Otherwise he need to be voted out.
He makes the party looks bad. He is a wimp.
What is wrong with this picture? why can't the people we elected read the bills that are presented to them. Seems like they are more interested in their vacation recess time than serving the people!
Another waste of tax money by Obama and his far left wingnuts.
For the love of CSPAN, we need some bipartisan support on this delay! Even the most stalwartly apathetic American would pause on their way through the channels to watch an auctioneer blaze through legislation.
Not only is the republican party the party of No but now they are the delay party; but then again we understand how it takes longer for them to accept the election result!
Gotta love both parties.
I love the way Obama keeps one step ahead of the No sayers. It must be frustrating the h__ out of them. Ha, Ha.