Waxman Hires Speed Reader To Combat GOP Obstruction
We're well aware, at this point, that the House Republican strategy for opposing the Waxman-Markey climate change bill is to make the legislative process take a very, very long time. That means heaps and heaps of irrelevant amendments, written by congressmen who warn of "Global Warming Gestapo." But so far they have eschewed a maneuver that would force the Democrats to read the bill aloud. All 900-plus pages of it.
In case the GOP decides to change course, though, Energy and Commerce Committee Democrats are prepared. With a speed reader.
According to the Wall Street Journal, the new temp thinks he can plow through about one page every 34 seconds--a pretty impressive clip considering the nature of the reading material. And it means the entire stunt would only last about nine hours--significantly less than it would take if the committee's clerks were forced to do the job.
Ladies and gentlemen, your United States Congress.
Josh
Matt
Eric
Hopefully, if it comes to that, they'll play the Benny Hill theme song in the background.
May 21, 2009 9:37 AM | Reply | Permalink
Ugh Republicans are such douchebags. All this to delay the inevitable by another day. I feel sorry for the reader...I can't even imagine.
May 21, 2009 9:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a way to force the Republicans to be in the chamber while the reading is going on?
If not, then at regular intervals, the Speaker should suspend the reading and note how many Republicans (the Party that called for this reading) are present and how many are missing.
:-)
May 21, 2009 10:02 AM | Reply | Permalink
No doubt. You should only be allowed to vote on the bill if you've been present for the entirety of the reading.
May 21, 2009 11:14 AM | Reply | Permalink
I shoulda hired one of these for college! Imagine how many more beers I could have drank after doing my homework!
May 21, 2009 10:05 AM | Reply | Permalink
The best part about this is that if they ever end up using him because the Republican's are obstructing it will end up on the evening news since this is the type of hogwash they love to run. Of course while showing the speedreader in action they will note it was made necessary by the Republican's hissy fit.
Pure win.
May 21, 2009 10:39 AM | Reply | Permalink
Is there a rule that you have to read it in order? Could multiple people be reading out loud from different pages at the same time? A hundred people all reading at once could probably get through it in about 10 minutes. There have to be at least one hundred interns...
May 21, 2009 11:18 AM | Reply | Permalink
We need a climate plan that’s affordable and effective. Americans should support a plan that:
• Achieves emissions reductions
• Creates jobs
• Preserves fuel diversity as a means of promoting greater energy independence
• Protects consumers against unnecessarily
high energy costs
We support a federal plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, but the Waxman-Markey bill needs to do more to guarantee that consumers are protected from unnecessary increases in energy costs. Because without these changes the bill is not affordable – and therefore, not effective.
To find out more about America’s Power’s stance on Waxman-Markey, watch our video. http://www.sn.im/balenergy
May 21, 2009 3:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
How much does big coal pay you to shill for them on blogs?
May 22, 2009 9:52 AM | Reply | Permalink
This after a Republican President who never read a damn thing, and a Republican Congress that rubber stamped lobbyist written legislation with nary a perusal of the details.
May 21, 2009 5:37 PM | Reply | Permalink