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Senate Debate Halted While Clerks Read 400-Page Bill Aloud
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ShareJune 04, 2008 2:30 PM
ABC News' Z. Byron Wolf Reports: Senator Barack Obama may have clinched the Democratic Presidential nomination calling for a politics of "change," but none of that rubbed off on his colleagues after a brief visit to Capitol Hill today.
Obama spent 16 minutes in the Senate, greeting colleagues and voting on a budget resolution. It was all smiles, handshakes and back-slaps for Obama as he greeted senators from both parties. But not long after he left, Democrats and Republicans were locked again in partisan gamesmanship. Democrats tried to bring up the Climate Security Act, which would institute a "cap and trade" system to stem greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S.
Republicans had voted with Democrats to consider the bill earlier in the week. But, that doesn't mean considering it will be easy. When Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid called up the bill today, part of the Senate's archaic rules require that a clerk read the bill. Generally, Reid would ask that both sides agree to waive the reading and it is entered into the record as a written document.
But not today. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, objected to waiving the reading. So the clerks of the Senate are taking turns actually reading the Climate Security Act out loud. It's 400 pages. It'll take 4-5 hours. And then they can consider debating it.
But, even after the bill-reading is completed, will the debate prove an effective use of time? Republicans would point out that it's unclear if the bill has the 50 votes it would need to pass, much less the 67 needed to override a promised presidential veto. Therefore, some have argued that the whole debate is a waste of the Senate's time.
More to the point, McConnell and Reid have been sparring over a legislative matter that has nothing to do with the Climate Security Act - judicial appointments.
Republicans have complained that Democrats have not moved to schedule votes on a number of federal circuit court nominees despite a pledge earlier this year by Reid that three (one from Virginia and two from Michigan) would get votes by the end of May. The month of May came and went and only one judge got a vote.
"The Democratic Majority has refused to honor its commitments. It apparently believes that commitments do not matter in the United States Senate, and that actions do not have consequences," said McConnell in a statement.
“The actions of our Democratic colleagues today are short-sighted. It is important that judicial emergencies are filled with qualified judges, and we will use the various tools at our disposal to ensure that those nominees and the Republican Conference are treated fairly, and that the Majority takes its commitments seriously.”
So the reading of the bill could be the first such delaying tactic we'll see until the judicial appointments matter is resolved.
Reid's spokesman Jim Manley countered in his own statement that Republicans have kept the two nominees from Michigan from getting votes by objecting to an expedited hearing process for them in the Judiciary Committee.
“More generally, Senate Democrats have treated President Bush’s judicial nominations with far greater deference than President Clinton’s were afforded by a Republican-controlled Senate that denied hearings or floor consideration for almost 70 Clinton nominees. Three-quarters of President Bush’s court of appeals nominees have been confirmed, while only half of President Clinton’s appellate nominations were confirmed. Last year the Senate confirmed 40 judges, more than during any of the three previous years with Republicans in charge, and today’s federal judicial vacancy rate is the lowest it has been in years,” he said.
June 4, 2008 in Kucinich, Dennis | Permalink | User Comments (8)
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Hmmm. McConnell can't read?
What this say about adult literacy ratings in this country? Thank goodness for No Child Left Behind. We simply can't afford another generation of McConnell's.
Posted by: The Commander Guy | Jun 4, 2008 2:38:21 PM
What's the problem there commander guy?
RULES are RULES right!
Posted by: geevill | Jun 4, 2008 2:40:59 PM
Ah the Bill that does nothing but use the word "Fee" 1300 times as it is attatched to everything.
The Bill that will create a dozen new government agencies of wasteful spending.
The Bill that will cripple the economy, bankrupt the average American and make gasoline go to $9.00/gallon.
The Bill that is based on the religion of global warming. Based on an idea without any factual proof.
Posted by: Freedom | Jun 4, 2008 2:42:19 PM
freedom
you have been marked with the spots of a republican
"based on an idea without any factual proof"
open your eyes lol wow even bush is saying global warming is real
Posted by: bhrandon | Jun 4, 2008 2:58:39 PM
Of COURSE global warming is real. But claiming that man is the major factor of it is ridiculous. Let's just ignore the NASA scientists that are gauging the future weather according to sun spots, which have instigated the past warming and cooling cycles of the earth since they were documenting it in the 1800s.
PLEASE, Congress, take your sweet time that I pay for to contemplate this bill before just signing it in. It's a total farce to arbitrarily try to legislate the free market based on what might or might not have an impact on the climate. Unless God plans to head it up, I'm not for it at all.
Posted by: DisdainLady | Jun 4, 2008 3:12:21 PM
bhrandon - I guess I should have been more clear defining the religion of global warming, meaning the man-made cause to the problem.
You can label me as an independent. I swear no allegiance to a political party. Voting only for the candidate I view best for the nation, and not the party.
I ask, have you read the Bill? Are you ok with the "fees" it describes to be attatched to every single thing that these soon to be erected "committees" dictate? Are you ok with the price of gas going to $9.00/gallon because of the additional tax and fees attatched? Are you ok with the delivery of everything we use as a consumer to increase in price? Including food?
You better if this passes.
Posted by: Freedom | Jun 4, 2008 3:33:27 PM
This climate bill is the largest fraud committed against the American people. Further to allow 15% of these climate indulgences to be purchased from foreign countries smacks of treason.
Posted by: Forbin Rhodes | Jun 4, 2008 6:20:25 PM
I am glad that they are reading the S 3036 Climate Change Bill. I have been listening all day and I don't hear anything that I am against. I like the idea of developing these new technologies, becoming energy independent, and reducing carbon emissions.
So glad that someone is trying to do something. I would rather pay to become energy independent rather than to continue to mortgage our country to oil rich nations.
Posted by: Glad | Jun 4, 2008 6:24:39 PM
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