Senate GOP will force clerks to read bill to delay COVID relief vote
By Alexander Bolton - 03/03/21 03:15 PM EST Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.), a staunch Trump ally and fiery fiscal conservative, has told colleagues that he plans to force the Senate clerks to read aloud the entire $1.9 trillion COVID-relief bill on the Senate floor, which could slow it down by as much as 10 hours.
Democrats on Wednesday were grumbling over the prospect of having to factor an additional 10 hours of floor time into passing the bill.
Any senator can force a reading of a bill on the floor but the formality is almost always skipped by unanimous consent to avoid wasting time.
Now senators will have to spend 10 hours listening to the bill be read aloud, which will come on top of the 20 hours of debate time scheduled for the legislation.
A Republican senator said Johnson will force a reading of the Senate substitute, which will include several changes compared to the 630-page House passed-relief bill.
“I’m told it’s going to be more like 10 [hours]. It’s going to occur at the beginning so it would be before the clocks starts so it doesn’t go against the 20 hours, it’s on top of the 20,†said Senate Republican Whip John Thune (R-S.D.).
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https://thehill.com/homenews/senate/541460-senate-gop-will-force-clerks-to-read-bill-to-delay-covid-relief-vote
