Coburn wants the bill read from the Senate floor. All of it. UPDATE: Coburn backing off.

Crossposted at TabithaHale.com.

UPDATE:

After making the threat earlier this week, Coburn said, “I don’t know” when POLITICO asked if he would force a reading by Senate clerks on the floor.

With his colleagues eager to go home for the Thanksgiving break, it’s possible that Coburn may backoff.

Thanks, Coburn.

The 2,074-page Senate health care bill would take 34 hours to read cover to cover — and that’s just what Sen. Tom Coburn wants done on the Senate floor.

The Oklahoma Republican has threatened to invoke parliamentary rules to force the Senate clerk (or more likely, a team of clerks) to read the massive bill before the full Senate begins formal debate on the legislation.

The move is strictly according to Senate rules, which say any senator can demand a bill be read in its entirety before debate begins. While Democrats could, if they wish, repeatedly make motions to end the soliloquy, Republicans on the floor could object, and the reading would continue.

Well if that happens, at least the staffers will know what’s in it. Coburn has said today that the action is not to delay the bill, but to ensure that Americans have a chance to learn about the bill and what is in it. Which is clearly more than Harry Reid is concerned with.

Here’s the entire text of the bill, which beat expectations by out-weighing Nancy Pelosi’s bill.

Since Reid has decided to give us just until Saturday to vote for this, there really doesn’t seem to be much of a chance of everyone being able to read the entire text. Not that this has been a concern so far – our Representatives seem completely content to vote based on what they’re promised is in it. Reading it just proves too much work.

I have an idea. If you write a simpler bill that is less loaded down by earmarks and unattainable promises it won’t be 2,047 pages and you may actually be able to get through it in the day and a half you allow yourselves before a vote that directly affects every person in our country.

Just a thought.

Hear Coburn on the Senate Doctors show at 5pm EST every Tuesday and Thursday. I’m certain this will be addressed on today’s show.

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