BUSINESS AS USUAL

President Biden's Covid Relief package passed the House with no Republican votes. Now the Senate is taking it up. (Barely: The Republicans voted not to consider the bill; VP Harris had to vote to break the tie and move things forward.)

A Republican Senator (Ron Johnson, Wisconsin) made a motion for the entire 628-page bill to be read aloud. It took 15 hours.

This action will have no effect on the passage of the bill. I imagine he just did it to be divisive and obstructive, like all good Republicans are supposed to be these days. And to prove he can be a major dick when he really puts his mind to it.

Another Republican Senator (Mike Braun, Indiana) says the required reading is just a "warm-up session" in the process of delaying the bill.

Our government in (lack of) action.

The relief bill is supported by an overwhelming percentage of Americans, both Democratic and Republican. But don't expect any Republicans to vote in favor of the bill. That smacks too much of "representative" government, which is something we've apparently given up in this country.

Republicans say the bill is too expensive. They didn't have that problem when they passed Trump's even bigger tax break bill, mostly benefiting corporations and wealthy individuals. Democrats stayed away from that bill when it was their turn to vote.

All of this is apparently business as usual in the Senate. Does it have to be that way?

The reading of the bill took all night. Was Ron Johnson there for the whole thing, paying strict attention? I rather doubt it. Senate rules require only one Republican to be on the floor during the reading.

It's a tag-team event, folks swapping in and out as required.

They should change the rule and make the guy who requests a reading remain present and alert the entire time. Hell, the senator's whole caucus ought to be present and alert for the reading.

And if anybody nods off, or goofs around, or passes notes, grinning like apes at one another, the reading should be called off.

If we are to be stuck with nonsense, let it be well-disciplined nonsense.