Oh You Henry Waxman

The U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committee passed a climate change bill this week.  Committee Republicans, led by committee ranking member Rep. Joe Barton(R-TX-6), vowed to stop the bill by loading it down with amendments and other parliamentary hurdles.  One trick was to force a reading of the entire bill.  Chairman Henry Waxman(D-CA-30) hired a speed reader in case Republicans required the full bill to be read.  Rep. Barton realized the Democrats called his bluff but still wanted to see the speed reader demonstrate his ability.  The result was a little congressional frivolity and a victory for Henry Waxman.