So, the Climate Change legislation is on the floor. sort of. They are debating an amendment, actually a complete rewrite, of the bill supported by Boxer (D), Liebermann (I) and Warner (R). The vote two days ago was for cloture so the Senate could debate the bill. Some good speeches yesterday on both sides.
Today, the Republicans have decided that they want the Clerk to read the entire amendment/substitution. It's probably 200+ pages, being read word for word by the clerk(s). Whenever one of the sponsors request to dispense with the reading, an R on guard objects, forcing the clerks to continue.
The Republicans are doing this delay of debate because they are objecting to how slow things are going on Judicial nominations. We'll be able to do nothing for at least the rest of the day. It's the equivalent of a filibuster, but without the Republicans from having to do anything themselves. They've figured out how to make the clerk do all the work.
Can somebody tell me if it is possible under the rules of the Senate to require that ALL SENATORS be on the floor for the entire time that a bill is being required to be read? I doubt it, but we have to take control of things somehow. This is going to take days!