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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It should be read aloud. And not by a speed reader. It should be available to every American before the vote. And each elected representative who votes on it, should be required to read it. We will be burdened by it forever.
We have been read "a bill of goods" on global warming and carbon footprints so we can feed the globalist banks and politicians' and lobbyists' hunger for money and power.
We are being scammed. Are we so arrogant that we think we can change cyclical natural changes?
Go watch The Obama Deception. That'll enlighten you fast.
Isn't it silly that we have to resort to this because the repos are so unwilling to work to help our country. They should be charged with treason the unpatriotic bunch of wing nuts. They have been spending all their time making up those stupid resolutions. I see ol bimbo Shara has been spouting off again too. Sounds like a pretty clever plan but then the demos seem to have a lot of good ideas lately.
With what I've seen from both parties lately,I would think the bunch of whining babies would be looking for someone to read them bedtime stories.."Speed reader"??..we would be lucky if the majority of elected officials can slow read
Are you kidding me. What's more important, signing the right bill or getting the bill signed a day sooner. This is just ridiculous. Atleast know and understand what you are voting for, unlike the stimulous bill.
What was the GOP calling the Dems when they had all the power, OBSTUCTIONIST's when they didn't get their way.
My oh, My, how the tables and labels have turned.
A full work day – well than get to work and take the wax out of your ears before we all go down with the ship called CLIMATE CHANGE!
The Party of No staggers onward.
Is it the guy from the micro machines commercials??
OH Yea, global warming.It snowed in New Orleans and Las Vegas this year. Bunch of alarmist bunk.
This is a great idea! If the Republicans want to play games with the legislative process, let's see how fun things can really get. Maybe the Republicans could get David Leisure, the guy from the old Isuzu commercials, to give all their speeches for them, since they lie about nearly everything, too. We've all heard about political theater, it would be entertaining to take it all the way.
God forbid this Congress actually read and understand anything they vote on.
Atta boy Henry! These butt heads need a civics lesson – they are disgusting to say the least. 2010 is coming and they'll find out then they really don't represent a voting majority of Americans -
God,this man is ugly!
Waxman has a piggys nose.
How low can the left wing nutjobs stoop! But, I am not surprised. Neither is anyone else surprised at with this Demcratic Socialist Party.
Wow How much does that cost?
Would the republicans like someone to read them the Constitution like a bed time story too?
A fabulous waste, er, use, of taxpayer money!
But considering that Waxman has the IQ of a carrot, I expect the bill will be completely incomprehensible anyway.
If they want it read, cancel their Memorial Day holiday vacation and the summer vacation and arrange for a vote every day during the period.
Ah, Republicans behaving like responsible stewards of the planet agin. Reading the bill out loud saves trees – no need to provide copies for everyone. What a good idea! The last time major legislation went through Congress the republicans complained they didn't have time to read the bill. Another good idea! I'm so glad our elected representatives are doing the people's work together, working together to protect our planet.
If the Republicans pull this delaying stunt, it will concrete forever their lack of value as a party to our country. This single stunt could and should help defeat any republican running for any political office of any 'thinking' state.
Good for them.
The GOP has become very predictable....this is too funny. Way to go Dems!
good for you Mr Waxman
What a great expenditure of our tax dollars!
The guy who requests for this must also sit alert for the entire 9 hours.