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Did Markey really read the bill?
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Snarky Markey raises a valid point in a comment about Rep. Betsy Markey and the energy bill. The comment criticizes Markey for supporting the bill without reading it. While the rushed late-night passage of the bill is widely under fire from both ends of the political spectrum, Markey is under particular scrutiny because she recently said she reads each bill before voting.
The Fort Collins Democrat is among hundreds of representatives (435 would be my guess) who voted for the 1,200 pages of legislation without thorough discussion. Last-minute amendments created a 300-page appendix to the bill, preventing any representative from reading the entire measure. Here is a link to the full text of the bill, which Markey very likely did not read last week. Here is the full text. Put on a pot of coffee and find out what the House approved.
For some perspective, the American Clean Energy and Security Act is more than three times longer than the long and far-reaching PATRIOT Act, which was also passed without much reading or debate. The energy bill is roughly the same length as “War and Peace.” It is also rumored that only one copy of the bill could be found on the House floor during the late-night discussion and vote.
It seems Reps. Lloyd Doggett and Dennis Kucinich are among the only congressmen who read even portions the bill. Many Democrats clearly voted for the bill on principle, and many Republicans oppose the bill on the grounds that it will allegedly increase the costs of business. Neither side read all the provisions.
Doggett voted for the bill on Friday, but at least offered strong arguments against key provisions in the bill. Kucinich continued to buck his party and uphold his progressive principles. He voted against the bill and opposes the exemptions and provisions for coal companies.
Snarky Markey won’t be the last person to question Markey’s ability to read bills before voting. Markey opened herself up for criticism when she said she read every bill on which she votes, as quoted on Face the State and this radio program. “I read the bill, I talk to my staff, I talk to people on the committee, then I got out and I listen to my constituents and see what they have to say,” Markey said.
Snarkeymarkey won’t be the last person to question Markey’s full reading of bills. Her Republican opponents will likely attack her vote on the energy bill, but there also needs to be a deeper movement against these long, complex pieces of legislation that face a vote with no discussion. Simplify the bills and open the discussion so Congress and the public know what the bills are really about.
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