By Matt Underwood Schumer to force reading of 1,000-page GOP mega bill, delaying it by half a day. This whole situation feels like a long overdue reckoning, doesn’t it? The idea that politicians are voting on bills they haven’t even read is, frankly, mind-boggling. Schumer forcing the reading of a 1,000-page Republican mega-bill, even if it only delays things by half a day, is a step in the right direction. It’s a basic expectation, really, that those making laws actually understand what they’re voting on.
It’s not like this is a new problem. People have been griping about the sheer size and complexity of legislation for ages. Passing massive bills that few people, even within the government, have actually scrutinized seems like a recipe for disaster. Remember when some representatives admitted they didn’t realize certain things were in the original bill? That’s a major red flag. It raises questions about competence and accountability. It’s reasonable to expect that politicians are at least pretending to have read the thing. Even if they don’t care, at least they would pretend!
The fact that voting on an unread bill impacting the entire country is even a thing is truly astonishing. It screams of negligence, and, in a sane world, would lead to some serious consequences. Imagine a law mandating that every member of Congress must pass a test on a bill before they can vote on it. Requiring them to demonstrate they understand the implications for their constituents seems logical. The idea of representatives dodging accountability by claiming ignorance about what they voted for is infuriating. It shows that they can’t be trusted.
The proposed delay, though seemingly short, could make a difference. If the reading of the bill forces the process to slow down a bit, hopefully it provides a bit of time to bring some of the most disturbing elements to light. One question is, can Schumer force a particular person to do the reading, perhaps someone known for obstruction? That would be an interesting way to use the delay tactic. What would be great is if there was a law in place requiring all bills to be read in their entirety, followed by a few days of debate.
Of course, it’s tempting to be cynical and predict the usual political theater. There’s the potential that some of the very senators who’ve vocally opposed the bill will ultimately vote for it. And some Democrats might vote for it as well, rationalizing their vote as “pointless” since the bill was passing anyway.
The call for a quiz is really something to be commended. A 100-question test, with a high passing grade, would force the Congress members to do their homework. The idea of writing things into the margins as a part of a fast vote is terrible, and should be looked into. The whole process should be done out in the open for the entire world to hear. Perhaps have Trump read it out loud, since it is his bill after all.
There is the point being made that some elements of the bill would provide funding for concentration camps. This raises a lot of strong emotions, and brings up issues of basic human rights and civil liberties. If the bill really did contain such provisions, then it is no wonder that it is so vital that the representatives understand exactly what they are voting on. The idea of any government using these methods on their own citizens should be a major cause of alarm. The citizens of a free country should be extremely concerned.
The whole situation underlines the absurdity of the process. It’s crazy that actually reading the bill before voting on it isn’t already a requirement. The suggestion to televise the reading so the public can see it is not a bad idea. Then the American people can get a closer look into the process. This is exactly what MTG proved when Republicans didn’t know what was in the bill. All of these people should be held accountable for their actions.
The fact is, there is a widespread sentiment that Congress is failing to do the jobs they are paid to do. They are paid by the tax money of the American people, and therefore they should be working for the people. It’s great that Schumer is at least doing something, even if it’s just a minor delay. The call for a single-issue bill, as opposed to these massive omnibus bills is one that is well-founded.
Ultimately, the debate over this mega-bill highlights the dysfunction in the system, and the need for reform. Perhaps dissolving both parties and starting anew would be the best course of action. This would allow us to move forward and create a more fair and transparent government. There are many different opinions out there. Hopefully, these views can be used to create a government that works for the people.