GOP Senator Coburn demands full reading of proposed health amendment

Dec 16, 2009

The Senate health care debate has run into a major delaying maneuver by Republican Sen. Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, who demanded that a proposed amendment be read in full -- a move that could take hours.

The amendment, which is more than 700 pages long and has no chance of passing, would create a single-payer health system. It was offered by Sen. Bernie Sanders, an independent socialist from Vermont , who caucuses with the Democrats.

The reading of bills and amendments is allowed under Senate rules, but usually is waived.

The reading of the Sanders amendment began at noon ET.

YOU can read the amendment, silently or out loud, by clicking here.

Update at 2:45 p.m. ET: Sanders withdraws his amendment, ending the extended reading.

Update at 2:52 p.m. ET: Sanders move came only moments after the Senate's second-highest ranking Democrat, Sen. Dick Durbin of Illinois, said the decision to require the reading of the amendment was part of a broader attempt by Republicans to "bring down health care reform." Durbin argued that the delay also jeopardizes last-minute legislation to fund the Department of Defense. "We have very little time," Durbin said.

Here