By Kerry Picket
The Washington Times
Dec. 16, 2009
Senator Jim DeMint (R – S.C.) had no regrets with the GOP’s strategy today, when Senator Tom Coburn (R – OK) asked for Senator Bernie Sanders (D – VT) seven hundred and sixty-seven page single payer health care amendment be read by the clerk. The reading of the amendment could have lasted until Saturday, but Senator Sanders put a stop to the reading of his massive amendment at almost three ‘o clock this afternoon, but it seems as if an unprecedented parliamentary procedure may have been broken in the process.
When Mr. Sanders called to withdraw his amendment during the clerk’s reading, Mr. Coburn objected, but the parliamentarian recognized Mr. Sanders nonetheless and ignored Mr. Coburn.
According to Senate procedures, “Under Rule 15, paragraph 1, and Senate precedents, an amendment shall be read by the clerk before it is up for consideration or before the same shall be debated unless a request to waive the reading is granted”.
It continues, ‘the reading of which may not be dispensed with, except by unanimous consent, and if the request is denied, the amendment must be read and further interruptions are not in order.’
The article continues here.
