Senate Health Care Debate Stalled This Week With GOP Request to Read Aloud 767-Page Healthcare Amendment

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) offered a scheduled amendment to the Senate’s health care bill Wednesday to create a single-payer health care system under Medicare. However, in a rare move, Senator Tom Coburn (R-OK) objected to a routine request to waive the reading of the amendment by the clerk—a reading which was expected to last until midnight. After three hours of the reading of the amendment, Sanders withdrew his amendment. Republicans requested the reading both on the grounds of transparency and as a means of delaying Senate action to file cloture on the Defense Appropriations bill and further action on the health care bill.

In addition, Senator Coburn has made two unanimous consent requests—(1) all amendments considered to the health care bill in the future must be available online 72 hours ahead of time and 2) be fully scored by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). This week’s request by Coburn to read the Sander’s amendment aloud may be used again regarding Reid’s health care manager’s amendment or other Senate action to be taken up before Christmas.