The top Republican on the House Energy and Commerce committee, Texas Rep. Joe Barton, has been threatening to force the committee clerk to read the 900-plus page bill as a way to drag out the markup of the Democrats' climate change legislation. Worried that this could jeopardize his goal of voting the bill out of committee before the Memorial Day break, Democratic Chairman Henry Waxman of California hired a speed reader, in case one was needed to publicly race through the massive bill.
Barton decided not to follow through on his threat - but he wanted to find out what a speed reader sounded like. He requested that one of the Republican amendments be read in full, and asked that the new hire take over for the full time committee clerk. Waxman obliged, and Douglas Wilder sat before the committee and began reading rapidly. He spoke so quickly it was impossible to decipher his words, as listeners began to laugh and applaud.
Barton decided he'd heard enough, and said he didn't need to finish. He then joked with Waxman, that since he went to all that trouble, "we should at least get the benefit of the gentleman's expertise." Smiling, Waxman asked Wilder to state his name and asked if he was available for hire. Wilder enthusiastically told the committee: "yes!"
From CNN Politics
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How much money does a stunt like this waste?
Those freaking bastards, here's a guy who just reads fast and here I am hooking everybody, and I read everything! That's it, I'm done with this! Dems are gonna get a bill for me, I've been hooking them up lately, getting tired of them taking advantage of me...as for the GOP...they know what they should do, LOL!!
That's it Dems, I'm done!! You're gonna hear from my lawyer...after the dynasty, the dynasty, LOL!!
Here's an idea, everyone has to read the entire bill and get quizzed on it before they vote for it. Their job is to vote on laws and know what they're voting on. It's stupid that these bills are hundreds of pages long and no one ever reads them.
CNN's Back to the Front. Heads up their Tails review.
It's sickening the way the Republicans act like spoiled little rich kids. Enough already!
Bravo! This was a great story and a good end to a stupid Republican ploy to obstruct (as usual). It's great to have some good humor around once in awhile.
You wouldn't want to take your time and read it. Dems want it passed before anyone can figure out how much this is going to cost us and before we realize they're reacting without a real plan. They want all this spending rushed through before we protest.
Liberal Cowards.
If a bill is 900 pages long it should just be broken apart so that Congress can rationally consider its parts. There is no sense in making it that long other than feeding their own corruption of sliding every unrelated rider onto that bill. There should be a law limiting bills to at most 100 pages each!
You don't need a speed reader if you aren't lying to the people. Obama PROMISED 72 hours before signing anything. He has already lied twice. Lie #3 coming up soon.
Now how fast will he say blame bush in?
"The Chinese save more than us and invest even more in infrastructure. Can they overtake us in the world stage?"
Ohh crap, I was afraid no one would find out already...so, how about that Communism, huh? LOL!!
Republican Joe Barton came off looking like a fool.
lol!
That was soooo funny!!
Yet another sad, pathetic waste of out tax money! they act as if governance is a joke! These clowns must go (some on both sides of the aisle)! They could give a rat's furry behind about us and this country!
Apparently elected democrats can't read..., progressive education at its best?
And just how much did the Republican's publicity stunt cost the American taxpayer? Rep. Barton should pay out of his own pocket any extra costs – the speedreader's fee and expenses, extra staff time, etc. – incurred. The taxpayers shouldn't shoulder the costs of this bozo's bad idea.
"He spoke so quickly it was impossible to decipher his words"
Is this the same guy that read Nancy the CIA briefings?
Instead of a bill being given time to be read, considered, debated – Democrats look for any way to RAM through their legislation.
If any ask for the bill to be read (as is the law) Waxman hires an incoherent speed reader.
Either way – no one understands the meaning of the legislation... simply that Dems want it and are tired of the GOP "meddling" by asking a review!
I am amazed congressional Democ-rats are intelligent enough to come up with this speed reader idea. However, they are not able to come up with legitimate ways to creatively stimulate the economy. The powers of political creativity are amazing.
More pathetic Republican games. Glad to see yet another one backfire on them. Give it up, guys. You've done nothing right in over eight years. What makes you think that the public isn't sick and tired of your insipid ideas and failed policies?
Can the Democraps make their position any clearer?
They are not interested in reading or having anyone read the things they vote on. They want to disappear into the back rooms an slip things into these bills. Then after no one reads the bills, they pass them anyway. After the bills are passed, no one can figure out who slipped the pork in.....
You got to love the resourcefulness of Rep. Waxman! It made me chuckle!
They stood up to the bully from Texas and called his bluff... I love it.
Great Idea. Lets see what the repos make of this report.
I love this! So much for the Republican great scheme. Better luck next time.
Fast, efficient people have no place in government. Throw the bum out!
Republicans wasting our tax dollars, I can't believe it!
Is this bill posted somewhere for transparency? I would like to read it slowly.
How fast can he say "Blame Bush" in 1 minute?
Is anyone else but me alarmed at the circus that Congress has become? Speed readers? What is next jugglers? I really don't like America sometimes.
What's the difference? Dems don't bother to read the bills they vote for.
They just blindly follow their ideology, like lemmings .
What a lovely, gentle, bipartisan resolution of a procedural problem.
If only all differences could be worked out so jovially!!
Actually, many are worked out just so. But we don't hear about it.
The media focuses on disputes, which are more entertaining.
Gotta love it! Called their bluff, and the Republicans have to wipe another stonewall tactic from their playbook. Just one question – if they made them listen to the whole thing, would that constitute torture?
Is this stupid or what? Washington had better enjoy their circus now because next election, things WILL change. The people have the power if they will only stick together an make it happen.
Leave it to a republican to drag their feet and then at the end of it vote NO anyway.
Vote the Greedy Opposition Party out. We have a lot of work to do to clean up this mess, and we don't need any more republican crap.
Wanted to play stupid games to drag it out? The democrats had your number and made you back down with your little threat. Nice attempt to save face by redirecting your embarrassment to the speed reader.
ROFL Begala worried that republicans are going to look like obstructionists...wow! I thought James Carville was gonzo...Begala's giving him a run for his money
How must time and money did this cost the tax payers?
How much time and money did this cost the tax payers?
If the Republicans had wasted the time and money to do something like that they would be raked over the coals.
So Barton finds this all amusing? Sad. He probably thinks Cheney has a heart and a brain too.
Waxman is awesome - the ugliest toughest little congressman ever!
Hooray for Waxman, maybe the so called Cheney republicans will think, I am sorry, when did a republican think.
The next time they try to stop legislation maybe they will ask someone about the possibility of what they might do.
It is too bad the cannot get a some republicans that have grown up and act like lawmakers instead of anchors.
Great!!!! Another bill voted for without reading
Oh, come on.... what a witty little aside to the seriousness of the GOP of late.... thanks for letting us see the human side of the new irrelevant Republican Party....
now... let's see... and this should be of interest to me because.... ?????
Congresscreatures. What a bunch of juveniles. And they are OUR representatives. Just swell!
I'm glad that these clowns are having such a great time at the taxpayers expense..can you say termlimits
Well, at least this time the absurdity was funny.
What a joke the dems are. They did NOT read the stimulus bill, and now another big tax bill gets presented at the 11th hour. I bet the dems are not present for this "reading" and have not read the bill either.
Waxman is an IDIOT. Get ready for the government to institutionalize theft as they find another way into the savings of all Americans.
We don't deserve this type of "democracy".
That is the funniest thing coming out of congress in decades. I think it was extremely smart of the the Democratic Chairman Waxman to hire a speed reader. I think it was even smarter for the Republican Rep. Barton to back down after hearing this man read.
Is this really how they spend their time and our money?
This, this is how they are spending our money? Would they please stop screwing around and do some work?! If he has never heard a speed reader then go to youTube like everyone else.
this is what our tax dollars pay for; lots of fun fun fun
I wonder who paid for the speed reader...I am betting it was the American taxpayer.
It's nice to know that people think it's a joke that lawmakers should read the bills before they vote on them.
The need to pass the read the bills act, as well as the one law at a time act, but I doubt it will happen; can't do anything that would make too much sense
Lovely – Let's keep passing laws without reading the bills! What the hell is going on here???
why didn't the democrats bring in a speed reader to go through the spendulous bill in order to bring transparency to that 1.7 trillion dollar piece of crap. you democrats do remember obama said he would allow time for people to read the legislation before he signed it. in this case he only allowed hours.
this is completely NOT what this country was founded for
Did the framers and after engage in circus like this... absolutely... is it a waste of time, money and shake the faith of the public... absolutely
the only good thing, the Rubs and Dems laughed together
How sad! Yet more Republican clowning, with the same effect as having Dick Cheney train them in how to shoot themselves in their feet
this is stupid.
What a mockery of our govt. It now seems it is 'wrong' to want legislation read. After the tarp and stimulus, you'd think they'd have learned.
Funny how every single bill introduced must be passed in record speed so that the president can then take his sweet time in signing it.
From a fellow Texan, Barton sucks.
wow for as smart as all think Liberals are you would have to assume that these senile old blow hards could read there own environmental bill that is going to destroy what's left of the U.S. industry...... priceless....
Are speed readers sort of like Obama's teleprompter?
I think so, I also think Waxman - a U.S. Senator - should have the capacity to READ a bill on his own!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
But what do I know! I'm just an average American who manages to muddle through the day on her own, reading all t he stuff that comes her way WITHOUT "speed readers"!
What a joke as is all our politcians. Time to boot them all out regardless of party.
Does it actually classify as being read into committee if no one can understand it? The news report indicates that it was impossible to decipher.
I smell as "substance over form" argument brewing here against future use.
I do not understand how our Congress can pass a bill, whether 900 pages or 9,000 pages without reading it. This has come up before. We elect our Congressmen & women & Senators to help the President rule and protect our country and it seems to me we have a circus with Rep Barton being the biggest clown.
Our country is in such a miserable mess and it seems to me everyone should be buckling down and working together to help get it straightened out. I cannot even imagine the money and time wasted in Washington.
Ahhh, the obstructionist attitude outsmarted by Waxman. Way to go, man!
Yes, Democrats gave a good idea to repugs, again!
a speed reader? really, am i the only one who just doesn't GET this?
what a travesty for the American people. The republican didn't want to pass the bill before reading...but the liberal pukes like Waxman will rubber stamp anything..
We as tax payers shouldn't stand for this. Liberals, this is your doing, you elected these idiots like Waxman...reap what you sow.
its good to see some bipartisan humanity if even for a short time