Coburn plans to read the bill …
posted at 9:50 am on November 7, 2009 by Ed Morrissey
Oklahoma’s Tom Coburn is an old-school conservative, and an old-school Senator. How traditional can Dr. Coburn get? Politico reports that Coburn wants to read Harry Reid’s ObamaCare bill before he casts a vote on it — and to make sure he has the time to do it, Coburn plans to force the bill to be read in its entirety on the Senate floor:
Sen. Tom Coburn, the Oklahoma Republican who developed a close friendship with President Obama when they served together in the Senate, is threatening to have the entire health care bill read on the Senate floor.
Senior Senate Democratic aides had heard Coburn was considering having potentially thousands of pages read aloud in effort to stall passage. “If he did this it would be even outrageous for a guy who’s become known as Dr. No around here,” one of them told POLITICO.
Coburn’s office confirmed that he is indeed thinking about having the bill read.
This could create even more problems for Harry Reid in getting the bill out the door. Unlike in the House, Reid hasn’t been able to do a jam-down on his version of ObamaCare. While a few Democrats still hold out hope for action on the bill by Christmas, some are now setting a target of the State of the Union address at the end of January as more realistic.
If Coburn and other Republicans force floor readings of the bill, that may drift into March or April. If Coburn insists on a floor reading every time the bill gets amended, it may be summertime before they can get around to it. The Senate has other business to conduct, which would interrupt floor readings that would take at least several straight days of floor time to complete for a bill that will run into the thousands of pages. And all it takes is one Senator to withhold the unanimous consent necessary to dispense with floor readings.
In effect, it would allow Coburn to have the bill filibuster itself.
Publicity stunt? Sure. But Coburn’s action would give people plenty of time to find the ridiculous aspects of a bill that would quasi-nationalize 1/6th of the American economy — its reach, its taxes, its mandates, and its intrusion onto the personal choices and freedoms of Americans. The more people have seen these bills, the less they have liked them. That’s why Pelosi’s trying to jam down her bill this weekend, and why Reid can’t afford to let anyone read his bill, let alone the Senate clerk doing it aloud.
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He’ll have to quit to pee first.
Akzed on November 7, 2009 at 9:52 AM
CBO estimate: House bill $3 TRILLION over 10 years! And that’s NOT including the 250 billion “doc fix”. Could the be the silver bullet that finally slays this thing? PLLLEEEEAAAASSSEEEE!
parteagirl on November 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Great Idea
Ed Laskie on November 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Coburn wouldn’t have to quit anything. The Senate clerk guy would be the one who would have to read the bill to the Senate.
Vatican Watcher on November 7, 2009 at 9:54 AM
Awesome.
Vyce on November 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Cool.
Has anyone if a vote is eminent in the House? Is congress in session? I guess I could turn on C-span. OH hum I have stuff to do today… Hope there is not vote or a surprise no vote if there is one! That would be theater!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
Something amiss when our ELECTED officials won’t allow a 2000 page bill to be read and digested before voting it into law.
REPEAL THESE ASSHOLES NOW!
jbh45 on November 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
If every Republican doesn’t do the same thing they’re crazy. Every elephant in the room should demand to have the ENTIRE bill read EVERY time it’s amended.
I {heart} Tom.
Mojave Mark on November 7, 2009 at 9:55 AM
And who said incrementalism was bad? The more this drags out, the more embarrassed the Dems become, and the weaker the president gets. This isn’t Waterloo as much as the French Army’s slow retreat from Moscow: A long, humiliating, excruciating defeat.
Liberalism hasn’t really had to pay a price for its decades of excess and corruption. This is an excellent time to start the penance. Drip, drip, drip.
EMD on November 7, 2009 at 9:56 AM
I don’t care if this is a stunt, it is what should be done and it should be done with every bill.
myrenovations on November 7, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Source?
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 9:56 AM
Politico.com: Anonymous People Saying Stupid Things.
Jim Treacher on November 7, 2009 at 9:57 AM
Lets hear it!
4shoes on November 7, 2009 at 9:58 AM
Correct. At least one Republican must stay in the chamber during the reading. Otherwise, a Dem can ask unanimous consent to dispense with the reading; with no Rep. there to object, the reading would stop.
Mr. Smith goes to Washington.
BobMbx on November 7, 2009 at 9:58 AM
The CBO estimate has just been posted at
redstate.com
parteagirl on November 7, 2009 at 9:59 AM
Ha, ingenious. I feel sorry for the clerk though. Hope it warrants hazard pay as his brain and eyeballs will likely melt.
Orange Doorhinge on November 7, 2009 at 9:59 AM
The negative of 2,000 page bills. beautiful. turn your enemies strengths agains tthem. The whole idea of a 2,000 page bill is to insert items in the bill to bribe other Congressman and to do niffy backdoor deals that the policticians do not want you finding out about. Therefore they have bundled all of these unsavory parts into a sweeping bill. Now with reading a bill on the floor this entire strategy is turned on its head and all those cockroaches have the light shined on them. All the dirty laundry will come out. Can the dems afford to have all the backroom deals shone the light of daylight?
Pick your target, personilize it and destroy it. the target at the moment is the bill.
unseen on November 7, 2009 at 10:01 AM
I don’t agree with that characterization. I don’t think this is a stunt for publicity, I think it is a tactic to decrease the odds of the bill passing by using one of the procedural tools in the toolbox.
Spirit of 1776 on November 7, 2009 at 10:01 AM
And you’re bragging about this and making it a big deal when it’s your job to read the bills?
Big freaking deal. Epic Fail.
Knucklehead on November 7, 2009 at 10:01 AM
In addition to the value a delay to this bill brings, no Senator can claim to “not be familiar” with the bill once it’s read on the floor.
No more excuses of “too big to read”.
BobMbx on November 7, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Reading the bill and having the bill read aren’t the same, Knucklehead.
Spirit of 1776 on November 7, 2009 at 10:02 AM
Tom Coburn is racist!
JoeinTX on November 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
No, it is not a “publicity stunt”, at all. The fact that forcing the bill to be read is one of the last available defenses against this un-Constitutional rape of our nation just shows how feral our government has gone.
When reading legislation on the floor becomes the only act standing between the US and the USSR, one must really wonder why half of these Congressional Dems are not sitting in jail.
I have to really start wondering about Hotair, too. First, we have this unbelievable call to “wait for the facts” on the jihadi terrorist act at Ft. Hood, and now we have you calling a desperate defense of our nation to be a “publicity stunt”. What the hell is going on?
progressoverpeace on November 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
Awesome. Very Jimmy Stewart of him.
vcferlita on November 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
From NewMax:
I don’t know how likely this is but this could be a big embarrassment to have the endorsement with drawn after that announcement by Obama!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:04 AM
NewsMax… sorry.
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:05 AM
FYI-Just heard on the radio that Hoyer is “confident” they have the votes this morning to pass the bill.
Don’t know what that really means but I don’t like the sound of it…..
JoeinTX on November 7, 2009 at 10:05 AM
Aren’t we all… sad that it is becoming a badge of honor.
Unintended consequences.
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:06 AM
I think it’s a good idea to require public readings, simply on the grounds of transparency. What’s ridiculous is trying to jam thousand page bills through in a couple of days.
Requiring public readings is a no-brainer. Of course they should. It’s pretty clear the Democrats are trying to hide stuff.
zmdavid on November 7, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Common sense not completely dead in the Senate.
jukin on November 7, 2009 at 10:06 AM
What can we do to encourage Coburn to do this?
doctormom on November 7, 2009 at 10:06 AM
Coburn is a patriot.
The beautifully simple act of reading the bill (and bearing witness to the absurd length and language of it) juxtaposed with his position as both a physician and a Senator, ought to be extraordinarily illuminating on how massively stupid this effort is on the part of our government.
ted c on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
From everything I’ve read and heard lately, only about 20% of all doctors in this country belong to the AMA. They are bleeding members.
Knucklehead on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
You notice how all this is working out, the Democrats make speeches, like transparency, read the bill and such, and then go and do whatever they have to. Just like the Soviet Politburo.
And how about that hoaxers bill, tax and ration. Another $7 trillion in taxes for what? The energy independence, what a laugher that whole lie is … BTW: Did You know the United States has largest energy reserves on Earth, according to a report from the Congressional Research Service. So what is this energy independence lie the Democrats are pushing on us about ? Lies, damn lies.
tarpon on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
If this crap sandwich passes in the house the reading of the senate bill will allow time for voters to show their outrage. I hope he does it, kill the bill!
farright on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
I was afraid of that! Dang. Well the Senate is our only hope. And it is a pretty good hope.
Getting rid of this thing will have to be done quickly if it passes.
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
Hope THINKING ABOUT READING are not the key words here.I am about sick of people who say they are going to stand against this and end up cowering into submission:(
ohiobabe on November 7, 2009 at 10:07 AM
God bless Coburn.
OmahaConservative on November 7, 2009 at 10:08 AM
I don’t know all the procedural tactics that members can use to stall a bill but I bet if he tries it for real Dingy Harry will try to steam roll right over him.
NeoKong on November 7, 2009 at 10:09 AM
With passage in the senate looking more and more unlikely, maybe the house Dems will be less likely to walk the plank for Pelosi this weekend.
parteagirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Within ten years they will all work for the government. They should get more active on this thing!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:09 AM
Do it Do it! Boehner should do it too since he gets unlimited time.
gophergirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Unanimous consent is not given.
tjexcite on November 7, 2009 at 10:10 AM
Could this be done in the House? I mean reading the bill on the floor of the chamber.
Falz on November 7, 2009 at 10:11 AM
Unfortunately, it won’t make one bit of difference. And chances are that The Precedent will continue saying that the AMA endorses it even if they pull their endorsement. The Precedent doesn’t care about anything but his attack on America. Facts never stopped him and won’t start, now. The Indonesian imbecile was claiming the endorsement of AARP before they ever actually endorsed the legislative rape, more than once. The moron also crowed to the world from his Traitor Tour in Cairo, that he was closing Gitmo by his deadline, even thoguh the story that that wouldn’t be done had come out just before. But, the America-hating traitor is never held accountable, so he just continues to say or do any damn thing he wants. And that will continue.
progressoverpeace on November 7, 2009 at 10:11 AM
I hope you’re right…I can live with the slow and long parts if I get the humiliating, excruciating defeat part. :)
Bob's Kid on November 7, 2009 at 10:12 AM
IF this thing dies this weekend….what do you think the DOW will do on Monday?
up up up and away….
tatersalad on November 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Publicity stunts are really all the opposition party has when the numbers line up the way they do!
Why didn’t the stupid Republicans pass stuff to bring costs down when they had congress!!!!! It is just frustrating to be playing catch-up on something this big!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Mr. Smith Goes to Washington FTW!!
cubachi on November 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Good luck with that Dr. Coburn, YOU JUST MIGHT NEED IT!
BobAnthony on November 7, 2009 at 10:13 AM
Not if he gets some “astronaut diapers.” They are very absorbent. Limit himself to little sips of water, and he could maybe do it.
Wethal on November 7, 2009 at 10:14 AM
KILL THE BILL!
elduende on November 7, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Publicity stunts, by definition, are empty gestures designed to do nothing but garner publicity. This public reading is not a publicity stunt but a legitimate defense. Ed is way off base in using the term, “publicity stunt”, since it is neither a stunt nor done to just gain mindless publicity.
We already give too much away in language to the traitorous left. To go and tag this moronic label on a defense of last resort is simply asinine.
progressoverpeace on November 7, 2009 at 10:16 AM
You call it a publicity stunt, Ed. I think it’s the right way to do the thing. I hope a quarter of the GOP Senators join him. I hope a couple of Blue Dogs join him.
And I hope that we can get a color commentary feed on Hot Air. OK, we can’t do that.
njcommuter on November 7, 2009 at 10:17 AM
Coburn’s idea should be viewed as a sincere statement that Congress has the obligation to read every bill. What better way to ensure that than to have it read to them? Mojave Mark’s idea of having every amendment trigger a complete rereading is just obstructionism.
A major problem with reading the bill aloud is that it every page has many references to text on other pages. Straight rereading would be impossible to follow for that reason. Therefore, the Senate clerk would have to insert those excerpts into the flow of the text, adding even more time and verbiage. But it is what it is!
Sowell Disciple on November 7, 2009 at 10:18 AM
If the Constitution was still in force today, every member of the House democrat cabal would face immediate arrest for violating their oaths of office and for committing treason.
Instead, they will get their bill by the simple expedient of ignoring the principles upon which our nation was founded.
I fear that our only remedy will be found in the words of the Declaration of Independence. So-called “servants of the people” who support the America-hating Osama Obama in his quest for total control over the USA have proven that they can never be trusted.
MrScribbler on November 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
This attack on America through health care has nothing to do with cost or even health care, itself. It doesn’t matter what would have been done by the GOP, the left would still be trying to take over the health care industry. This is all about a feral government on the hunt for power and control. It has nothing to do with anything else.
progressoverpeace on November 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
This is worth repeating. The term “publicity stunt” is what Reid et al will attempt to dismiss it as. Why would they label it such? As an attempt to embarrass Coburn into not using an effective tool.
It’s mislabeled here. I hope Petunia, you understand why the label matters and why we shouldn’t affix “publicity stunt” to all actions of the opposition party.
Spirit of 1776 on November 7, 2009 at 10:19 AM
Awesome. I love Dr. Coburn.
Why can’t this happen in the House? Are their rules that different? I would think Michele Bachmann would looooove to pull such a “publicity stunt.” She’s about the only one there with the balls to stand up to the Empress.
NoLeftTurn on November 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM
I wonder if he could also force the reading of all the other bills this one references?
huckleberryfriend on November 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM
As a medstudent, I’ve heard many a story of people catheterizing themselves during extremely long surgeries. Pretty sure he knows how!
orthopod2b on November 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/afx/2009/11/07/afx7098126.html
That link is to what Hoyer said about passage today.
Stupid Congress!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM
One of the many reasons for 2006 and 2008.
GOP got elected, stated in power for years, got comfortable, worried about passing Flag Burning Amendments, spent gobs of money, starting chasing anything on two legs instead of minding the store, etc. Something could have shohld have been done about this a long time ago but other things were more important to them……..like coke and hookers.
We’re staring those consequences square in the eyes right now….
JoeinTX on November 7, 2009 at 10:20 AM
Yeah for my Senator!
fbcmusicman on November 7, 2009 at 10:22 AM
I hope Tom takes his Flomax before reading. Otherwise – things could get ugly.
simplesimon on November 7, 2009 at 10:23 AM
email him encouragement. I just did.
http://coburn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm
rrpjr on November 7, 2009 at 10:23 AM
If I recall, the full reading rule, like others, can be suspended, but I think it takes two-thirds vote of members present (not 67 votes).
If I’m correct, that means that the Rs will need to stay close enough to come vote on a motion to suspend any time the bill is being read.
TXUS on November 7, 2009 at 10:24 AM
Dr. Coburn is just the right person to lead the Senate attack on the Pelosi healthcare bill, IMO. Good for him.
cs89 on November 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
Okay, it’s not a stunt… but it is designed to bring publicity and delay.
I do stand corrected. And I like it as a idea. Anything to bring sanity to Congress.
I have a health saving account and I am learning to use it. I can use it to buy anything medical at all! Like crutches at the pharmacy… So it covers everything like bandaids, Tylenol. I like it so far! My insurance payment goes into an account and medical stuff comes out. Tax free. Then Catastrophic coverage after that. And if we don’t use it all… so far we are mostly… it rolls over. Congress is just going to mess everything up!
petunia on November 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
First, it’s clerks who would have to read the bill, not the senator.
However, catheterization is a common practice when fillibustering bills, but actual fillibustering hasn’t occured in the US Senate in years because of the Cloture procedure.
In Texas, where there is no cloture, our Senators have sometimes fillibustered while cathed.
TXUS on November 7, 2009 at 10:31 AM
Dr. Coburn is just the right person to lead the Senate attack on the Pelosi healthcare bill, IMO. Good for him.
cs89 on November 7, 2009 at 10:25 AM
gophergirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Why only Tom Coburn?
diogenes on November 7, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Thanks, rrpjr. Emailing him now!
doctormom on November 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I just did thanking him for having the guts to do what my idiot Senators won’t.
gophergirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:35 AM
I believe reading the bill on the floor is racist.
jeff_from_mpls on November 7, 2009 at 10:36 AM
Coburn is awesomely awesome in his awesomeness.
Expose Dems, liberals, progressives, whatever for the control-freak frauds that they are.
Anyone else notice how odd it is that only the GOP has medical doctors in both houses of Congress, but the Dems don’t listen to a word these doctors say?
BuckeyeSam on November 7, 2009 at 10:36 AM
The Republicans should all walk out – not even vote.
If they want to pass this piece of crap – it’s all on them. Not one Republican should be in that chamber when the vote is cast.
gophergirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Two words: astronaut diapers.
And I’ll buy ‘em.
uncivilized on November 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
So how would this work? Would Coburn read the whole thing himself or would the Senators take turns? Or would they bring in some interns to do it?
SoulGlo on November 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
No, the rule only requires the reading of the text of the subject bill.
TXUS on November 7, 2009 at 10:37 AM
Remember this Dem tactic when Bush was President?
I hope Coburn does it. The bill loses support every day the country learns more about it.
CJ on November 7, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Wonderful idea….give this monstrosity the light of day that the Dems want to deny….
t on November 7, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Perhaps the esteemed Senator Vitter can lend this great patriot from Oklahoma some diapers. That’s what heroes do, I guess.
simplesimon on November 7, 2009 at 10:38 AM
Produce video of ordinary Americans reading out out loud.
And they’re pissed.
jeff_from_mpls on November 7, 2009 at 10:38 AM
No, the Senate Clerk must read, and his/her assistants.
TXUS on November 7, 2009 at 10:40 AM
Looks like Pelosi made a deal with the anti-abortion Democrats. This sucker is probably going to pass today. Doesn’t mean the Senate and the House will get together, but it looks bad. Been tracking Rasmussen daily tracking poll and Obama is only -7. What gives. All week he has been climbing up. What has he done to get higher approval. Oh yeah I forgot….. 10.2% unemployment
sandee on November 7, 2009 at 10:42 AM
And step back for a minute and think about this; is it REALLY a stunt? Don’t you think that the founding fathers intended every bill to be read aloud? Don’t you think this is how it was done for a very long time? Don’t you think it is relevant to do this?
Isn’t the fact that they can get unanimous consent is one of the reasons they can develop these monstrosities in the first place?
I say unanimous consent should be withheld on EVERY bill until at least the final version of the bill has been available online for 72 hours and an addition 24 hours for every 200 pages of bill.
michaelo on November 7, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Our greatest hope is that this never gets out of the Senate.
gophergirl on November 7, 2009 at 10:43 AM
I hope so. Coburn was used throughout our primaries as an example of how moderate Obama was that he was such good friends with Coburn and worked across the aisle with him
yeah
ginaswo on November 7, 2009 at 10:43 AM
Hear, hear!
progressoverpeace on November 7, 2009 at 10:45 AM
When John Kerry and Harry Reid meet to reconcile the two versions of the bill, will it be called Harry-Kerry Care?
liberty0 on November 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I suspect that this is what Coburn, through his threat, is really seeking to accomplish.
TXUS on November 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
I don’t like to criticize you Ed because you do a great job keeping us informed – BUT this not quasi-nationalizing, this is full-blown nationalizing. It is not an intrusion of personal choices and freedoms, it is an eradication.
We have to stop giving Obama and the Dems the benefit of the doubt as to their motives. Their motive is clear and that is to control as much of our lives as possible no matter what the costs or repercussions are.
Sporty1946 on November 7, 2009 at 10:46 AM
After Obama compared him to a terrorist, that is.
Or I suppose now, a man-caused man disaster.
Spirit of 1776 on November 7, 2009 at 10:47 AM
I’ve been a fan of Coburn since they started naming omnibus bills after him.
jhffmn on November 7, 2009 at 10:48 AM
Good! He needs to read the whole thing then.
The last time this was tried, the dems hired that speed reader and it was like a big joke and then they voted to stop the speed reader.
This is not a joke! Read the blasted thing, expose it, stonewall it, pray over it and set it on fire in the chambers if you have to! Do whatever it takes but do not give in and do not quit!
JellyToast on November 7, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Just reposting…again.
Saltysam on November 7, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Phone, fax & email Coburn with your support. Now!
mr.blacksheep on November 7, 2009 at 10:54 AM
READ THE BILL!!
Philly on November 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
What would Claude Rains say?
Del Dolemonte on November 7, 2009 at 10:55 AM
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