C-Span 2 - Reading of Bernie Sanders Single Payer Amendment (sample)

[MrOphachew]

Man ole Sanders is on c-span2 now babbling about the anti-bailout bill. But he didn't mention fanny mae once?

[Prod1Kh]

I feel sorry for the Independent Senator from Vermont who had to deal with a partisan, hard-right wanker from Oklahoma for whom Opposition isn't a label, it's a calling.

[cbat36]

they should read every bill out loud, that would prevent bullshit legislation from secretly being put in without the public's knowledge, like the Patriot act ect.

[mpmartin7]

How about they read the Constitution out loud, and debate whether they have the authority to violate the 10th amendment and dictate the expenditures of individual citizens.

[mooochael]

I love you Bernie Sanders and I hate the United States of AmeriKKKa.

[cbat36]

@mooochael move to Canada punk

[michaelpshipley1]

the whole federal government is a steaming pile of festering waste. eliminate it. it will become irrelevant anyway soon enough when its only source of power and corruption, the federal reserve note, finally goes the way of all fiat currencies since the beginning of time, nothingness.

[squeezybox]

Because laissez-faire has been such a succesful approach to government in the past?

[killefer762]

I know Republicans are generally spineless wimps but about time to slow down this train wreck and derail it. Then start over with someone that works.

[psychocycledad]

poor girl, she ought to get a raise after that.

[Ohloveeh]

It may bring more transparency in Congress and the Senate to have Bills and Amendments to be read aloud, but this causes huge delays. The Republican caucas asked for it to be read aloud to prevent progress to be made, as they have been lately with Filabuster and other undemocratic tactics to slow down the US government and to slow down any help being legislated for the american people to ensure that their own pockets are lined with the dollars coming from the Health Insurance companies.

[bigstack14]

I'm Soooo glad to see that he made them do this. I'm glad someone is standing up for the American People. Id make them read every bill out-loud so the people can hear it and prevent there country from being spent into oblivion.

On a side note i do feel sry for the girl who must stand there and read this pathetic bill out-loud.

[Prod1Kh]

@bigstack14 You don't actually know who forced this action or why, do you?

[whodhellknew]

Because paying the Senate and their staff to read out passages that aren't listened to and don't need to be read out (since those who need to know could read the text) is such a good use of public funds.

What difference does it make, spending money on symbolic and ineffective actions?

[tragicallyhiprule]

Thank you Mr Corbin you are now the new biggest asshole of the day replacing Joe Leiberman.

You have this fricking thing read and you leave the room? At least sit there and listen, you might learn something you ignorant excuse for a politician. Single PAyer is the best alternative and not even being offered as a viable option

[JiveDadson]

Tom Colburn did a good, good thing. I hope he insists on every bill being read aloud.

[MrRoboto81]

At least he could read them himself.

[Quiltingsando]

That is a good idea. They should not only write their own bills but read all the bills before they vote on them. Maybe, it would slow down government growth and control over our lives.

[funkyflights]

But his motive was to stop the government from moving forward with debate.... DEBATE is not a bad thing and to say otherwise is ridiculous.... think about it.... Millions of Americans deserve our leaders to at least DEBATE the issues not play political games and stalling tactics... Because that's all this is .... A GAME ... they already know what's in the single payer bill....

[JiveDadson]

There are no debates. Everything that happens in that chamber, except for voting, is just for show. They change their positions not because of reason, but because of back-room deals and lobbyists. Besides, they cannot debate a bill they have not seen. The one that will come up for a vote is being crafted in the secrecy of Harry Reid's inner sanctum. It will not be released in time for senators to read it, or even find out what's in it, before they vote.

More sand for those gears!

[funkyflights]

Lobbying in Washington should be made illegal... BUT I can assure you every congressmen knows about the bill and has been presented with single payer at some point... THEY DO NOT need the bill read aloud ... what are they pre schoolers?.... they can read the bill in one evening in there cozy living rooms with there 20,000 dollar a month salary ... this was simply a stalling tactic and THAT"S IT ....

[ShowsOn]

It would be unconstitutional to make lobbying illegal. The last clause of the first amendment states that citizens are free "...to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." That effectively makes lobbying protected in the constitution, it can only be regulated it can't be banned.

[funkyflights]

Petitioning the government is one thing .. buying the government is another!! Our founding fathers did not plan on businesses crossing state lines and becoming so powerful ... It's clear there using big payoffs to affect votes from our leaders... AND THAT is wrong for the American people

[nnjhansen]

What our founding fathers never envisioned was a central government so powerful that businesses would spend millions of dollars to lobby it. I believe you have the circumstances exactly backwards, if you want to limit the influence of lobbyists in Washington, limit the influence of Washington.

[funkyflights]

Are founding fathers knew the government would set the laws for the land... HOW do I have that backwards ? Do you honestly think Giant corporations in health care wont KILL this country.... excuse me but next time you fly on and airplane I think your feeling a little better knowing the government makes dam sure the company follows all maintenance guidelines.... OTHERWISE the private airline would cut corners to save money and people would be dying.... sorry man but your wrong...

[nnjhansen]

Our founding fathers did NOT expect the central government to legislate on any matter other than those expressly enumerated in the Constitution.

I know that 'giant' health care corporations have not killed this country. If anything is going to do so it is more government involvement.

How long do you believe a private airline whose planes regularly crashed would stay in business? Your belief that government regulations make you safe is just naive.

[funkyflights]

OH REALLY ? so your gonna sit up in here and tell me no federal regulations on big corporations is a good thing ? YOU DO realize business is to make profit DON'T YOU ? So when you DO nothing to regulate airlines or insurance companies guess what happens.... THEY CUT CORNERS TO MAKE MAXIMUM PROFIT..... that means NOT every plane will crash but you better believe MORE will be crashing.... SO answer my question would you feel safe flying with NO FEDERAL regulations on maintenance ?

[nnjhansen]

Yes, I believe federal regulations serve only to limit competition and allow corporations a defense against lawsuits, they do NOTHING to make you or me any safer.

Airlines maintain safety standards, not because some government bureaucrat may come and inspect and possibly fine them but because it is in their best interest to do so. People do not fly airlines whose plane fall from the sky and they do sue companies who fail to follow proper safety procedures when there is an accident.

[JiveDadson]

They knew more or less what was in Sander's bill, but they will not know what's in Reid's bill when it finally comes up for a vote. I know that Colburn was just being disruptive. I salute him for that. I wish they would all just go home and stay there.

[whodhellknew]

His disruptiveness will have no real effect, yet cost the taxpayers simply by using up the Senate's time.

And as we all know, the Senate's time is not free.

[Quiltingsando]

Sounds like it is a health tax up the ass.

[MrRoboto81]

Not really - it's a tax on the upper 1% in terms of the income tax bracket. It's still a lower tax on the wealthy than it was 50 years ago when it was over 90 percent.

[MrRoboto81]

Bernie Sanders is my new hero.

[likingpurple]

@MrRoboto81 What a wonderful world it would be if all politicians had a heart and no greed. God Bless Bernie Sanders.