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Guess How Much Time the Senate Took to Review its 154-Page ‘Fiscal Cliff’ Bill

Jan. 2, 2013 4:55pm Becket Adams

Senators Received Final Copies of the 154 page Fiscal Cliff Bill Three Minutes Before they Voted on it

The lights of the U.S. Capitol remain lit into the night as the House continues to work on the “fiscal cliff” legislation proposed by the Senate, in Washington, on Tuesday, Jan. 1, 2013. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin)

The U.S. Senate in dramatic last-minute fashion voted 89-8 Tuesday to pass the “American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.”

But considering the fact that senators spent all day locked in meetings and the fact that the vote didn’t take place until the wee hours of the morning (1:58 a.m. ET to be exact), it was all but certain that none of them had actually read the 154-page bill.

And it appears that none of them did — at least not all of it.

“Multiple Senate sources have confirmed … that senators received the bill at approximately 1:36 AM on Jan. 1, 2013 – a mere three minutes before they voted to approve it at 1:39 AM,” CNSNews.com reports.

“The bill is 154-pages and includes several provisions that are unrelated to the fiscal cliff, including repealing a section of ObamaCare, extending the wind-energy tax credit, and a rum tax subsidy deal for Puerto Rican rum makers,” the report adds.

So, yes, a bill that would later make its way down to the lower chamber and find approval in the House was never actually read in its entirety by the Senate.

“The bill avoids the fiscal cliff by making permanent the Bush tax cuts for individuals making less than $400,000 per year and couples making less than $450,000 and by putting off the automatic spending cuts (sequestration) from last year’s debt ceiling deal until March,” according to the CNS report.

The bill also puts off the automatic spending cuts (i.e. the “sequester”) for two months. After that, Congress will have to figure out deal with those while they also debate the debt ceiling limit.

Final Thought — We totally called this:

Seriously, this whole “we don’t read bills” thing has become a really, really bad habit.

Follow Becket Adams (@BecketAdams) on Twitter

Featured image courtesy Getty Images.

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Comments (80)

ledbythnose
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 6:01pm
When the American People have had enough of this $hit perhaps they will drag themselves away from Football and Dancing with the Neighbors Sheep. Gather up in the millions and march to Washington and arrest them all. If we aren’t going to take action, them why sit here and whine about it? Just sayin.

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- oldguy49
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 6:08pm
  again……………TERM LIMITS …………….make 4 year limit on house and senate and only let them serve 2 at most
  
  Report this comment
- Gold Coin & Economic News
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 7:20pm
  This thing was a scam from the word go. The entire country got screwed on this on:
  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxQxnGu29_I
  
  Report this comment
- lovenfl3
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:02pm
  They never read any of the bills. Who could forget John Conyers on Obamacare? Or how about Eric Holder and Big Sis on SB 1070? It doesn’t even matter to these people, on either side. I love how they changed the definition now of balanced approach. Remember how that was supposed to work? This video says it all. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fn7HlDqK3VM
  
  Report this comment
- dmerwin
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 10:23pm
  “You have to pass the bill to see what is in the bill”. How can anyone who does an honest days work for a living, and supporting the other 47% of the country, look at the way government does it’s business and give them any kind of positive performance evaluation? If these people mowed your lawn you would fire them.
  
  Report this comment
- clusterlizard
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 11:11pm
  OLDGUY49: I understand your point, but I don’t believe term limits are the answer. If we had an engaged citizenry, we wouldn’t need term limits. Our perceived need for term limits is a sign of a deeper problem and implementing term limits would just be a band-aid. We don’t have a well-informed, engaged citizenry. Our current state is a reflection of that.
  
  Report this comment
- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 3:17am
  @ LED
  
  Gather up in the millions and march to Washington and arrest them all.
  ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
  Why arrest them when the end resulting trial (if any) will only render all the arrested as not guilty. The judicial is just crooked as the executive and legislative branches, don’t forget that.
  
  Report this comment
- Hoosierdad
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 8:12am
  agreed. it will have to be the people that do something. the government has most people fooled into believing that they have someone fighting for their rights. they bicker back and forth until the very last minute, then bow down and kiss ass. sooner or later people will wake up and realize they are all working together. they just have to act like theyre doing something to keep us from doing what you said. but, by that time, it will be WAY too late. America is no more, its over. it wouldnt surprise me if obama stays in office after his term ends but even if he doesnt, we will have another just like him, if not worse, like maybe clinton or even gore at this point. our elections are corrupt and we are f’cked
  
  Report this comment
Hokiedad
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:57pm
gee, what a surprise. How much more of this garbage are the people going to take? I am to the point that nothing surprises me anymore and to be totally honest, I don’t even care anymore. I’ve been to Washington twice. I suppose I’ll have to go at least once more before I die. next time I won’t be so damn nice!

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brigott
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:50pm
If they don’t read it before they pass it, how will the even know if something is added to it AFTER it has been passed?

I’ll write a bill. They can pass it without reading it. Afterwards, I will let them read “exactly” why they passed (I would never even think of changing it between the passing and the reading).

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pissantno.10
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:46pm
the house still passed it and they had time to read it. time for pitch forks and tar and feathers

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jawgee
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:45pm
Why we are paying these guys anything anyway? I mean I can just as easily rubber stamp something as these folks who are making close to $200K/yr. I’ll do it for half that much and I won’t even have to quit my day job!

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Trail_Jumper
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:44pm
Guess how much time I’m going to waste voting for these people………..none.

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jawgee
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:43pm
Who wrote this bill? It’s amazing that a bill with such high priority for the entire country would wreak so bad of rotten pork. The senator that was in charge of writing this bill should be outed…then ousted.

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FISH_BONE
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:33pm
Did anyone expect any more from our “leaders”? Really?

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- pissantno.10
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:40pm
  hey the are all kings and queens reading thats for the little people
  
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nilo
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:32pm
Term limits begin in 2014, right everybody? Remember this bunch subscribes to the “pass the bill before you read it” mentality.

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schroeder123
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:22pm
The Most Corrupt People that have every lived. Your Elected officials. What a same.

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toidiegalliv
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:21pm
Who would have imagined that corruption would breed such incompetence? I mean really, who’d a thunk it?

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- dublinthewagons
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:36pm
  Really. Just look @ the stock mkt. today. Dow ^308.41, nasdac, s&p, gold, silver, platinum, oil
  Brokers didn’t ready it either. How many voters can read? Not many the same fools were elected by the same fools. The majority of people evidently are too stupid to make a decision by themselves.
  VERY SAD
  
  Report this comment
term limits for congress
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:21pm
Read? Our rulers do not need to read. As subjects, we should not be allowed to read.

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Dismayed Veteran
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:21pm
Be patient. Nancy will explain it to us in 2021.

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Chromo200
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:21pm
And congress can’t figure out why they are not thought of highly.

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AllAmericanGirl22
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:17pm
There is something seriously wrong when our elected leaders vote for something they didn’t even read. They should have voted no unless the read it.

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Ruprecht
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:15pm
They were waiting for the movie.

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dublinthewagons
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:10pm
Shame it didn’t have letters of resignation in the package. If they can’t read or won’t read. Put them in the fire and cook’um

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- Skeeterhawk
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 6:21pm
  What a great idea. Just need a sneaky aid to add it in there.
  
  Report this comment
Mike Benton
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:05pm
The Media has had a day or so and still we don’t know what’s in it….like the NASCAR deal, and the tax breaks for Hollywood.

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- YAHSHUARULES
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:10pm
  These people are either ignorant of what they are doing or evil. You decide. Here is the evidence of the agenda:
  https://vimeo.com/52009124
  If America goes down, the free world will go down with it and it will be finished for a very, very long time…
  
  Report this comment
Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:03pm
We got Pelosied again, typical for Washington. No one who voted for this mess, w/o bothering to read it first, should remain in office.

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- gyro
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:10pm
  Snowleopard you cheeted you didnt guess
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:13pm
  Bingo!
  
  Report this comment
- BODYBAG
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:34pm
  @SNOWLEOPARD {GALLERY OF CAT FOLKS}
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:03pm
  No one who voted for this mess, w/o bothering to read it first, should remain in office.
  ——————————————————————————–
  Bingo.
  When did this whole thing get so F’ed up and turned upside down?
  Nowadays “our representatives” are measured by how many pieces of legislation they’ve authored
  or sponsored —- when in fact it should be the OTHER WAY AROUND.
  
  If these people were REQUIRED to read everything prior to voting on it we’d get FAR LESS
  legislation passed, which would be a good thing.
  
  I am more inclined to admire a REP who focuses on enforcement of what is already on the books
  and does NOT pass anything new in his/her term [Sen DeMint comes to mind].
  
  In fact start moving in the OPPOSITE direction — start eliminating legislation.
  
  Report this comment
- Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 9:08pm
  @Bodybag:
  
  They should not only be required to read the legislation, but have it read aloud into the records of the House or Senate, and all votes one way or another, ensconced in the record as well. Also, to ensure that no one can say ‘we were not there’, those failing to attend a reading of the legislation, lose ALL salary and benefits for that year.
  
  Report this comment
yiska8
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:02pm
3 minutes?
Longer than I expected with this pack of little tyrants.
Kinda like Pelosi, saying ” But we have to pass the bill so we can let you know what’s in it.”

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Mike Benton
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:02pm
• U.S. Tax revenue: $2,170,000,000,000
• Federal budget: $3,820,000,000,000
• New debt: $ 1,650,000,000,000
• National debt: $14,271,000,000,000
• Recent [April] budget cut: $ 38,500,000,000

Let’s remove 8 zeros and pretend it’s a household budget:
• Annual family income: $21,700
• Money the family spent: $38,200
• New debt on the credit card: $16,500
• Outstanding balance on the credit card: $142,710
• Budget cuts: $385

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- Walkabout
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:35pm
  That is good. Keep posing it in various times & in various forums.
  
  I would like to see a trolls to to dispute the logic. My guess if they try it will be an ad hominem attack or deflection.
  
  Report this comment
- Skeeterhawk
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 6:20pm
  That is a great representation of the facts. Only now add another four trillion in spending because of this bill’s passage.
  
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Glennda
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:01pm
Longer than it took for the Patriot Act.
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- ashamed777
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:07pm
  which Obama just resigned behind closed doors…its on his hands now buddy bag
  
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- Cavallo
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:17pm
  Incorrect. Although they should have taken more time on the patriot act. They had a day (a month for some provisions) for the Patriot Act compared to 3 minutes for the current legislation.
  “On October 23, 2001, Republican Rep. Jim Sensenbrenner introduced H.R. 3162 incorporating provisions from a previously sponsored House bill and a Senate bill also introduced earlier in the month. The next day on October 24, 2001, the Act passed the House 357 to 66, with Democrats comprising the overwhelming portion of dissent. The following day on October 25, 2001, the Act passed the Senate by 98 to 1, with Russ Feingold the only opposition.”
  
  Report this comment
- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:18pm
  HORSEPRANCER/WANGO/PANTS/GLENNDUH, It was at least a little more than three minutes, but I’ll admit that is a good point on your side. The entire bill played on passions at the time and was a rush job. Certainly is one of those laws that needs to be repealed, but it won’t happen with 0bama. Right now, its too useful for his agenda.
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:28pm
  The Patriot Act that Obama has really enjoyed using!! The Patriot Act instituted after our nation was attacked in a time of war 8 months into the GWB Presidency? That Patriot Act? And I thought Obama hated the Bush policies??? So much so, he was going to close down Gitmo? What
  The same Patriot Act that helped Obama find/capture OBL? You know when, Obama kicked in the door and caught Osama in his PJ’s?? Oh wait the SEALS did that. You wouldn’t know it, to hear Barry tell the story. Most those SEALS are now mysteriously GONE. So I guess Barry can shape the story any way he likes now, huh? Is that the Patriot Act you’re referring to?
  
  Report this comment
- AvengerK
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:43pm
  You mean the act that B Hussein Obama just renewed after vilifying it during the 2008 election WANGO/GLENNDUH/HORSIE/PANTY? You didn’t seem upset about that part.
  
  Report this comment
- Glennda
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 8:52pm
  AVENGECAKE . . .Wrong again! (What are the chances?) I disagreed with the Patriot Act then and I do now. Even your guesses aren’t interesting or provocative.
  
  Report this comment
- yiska8
  Posted on January 3, 2013 at 3:17pm
  @avengerk
  What are the odds that the Bolshevik Glennygirl hates the Patriot Act, but voted for Baraka Claus
  (with more drone attacks than any other President) TWICE?
  
  Report this comment
JUSTANOTHEROPINION
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:00pm
Stupid is as Washington does!

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- riseandshine
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:06pm
  Stupid or corrupt?
  
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- DEFCON4
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:12pm
  *political “s.o.p.”
  
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gyro
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:00pm
not reading just guessing —– 8 minutes

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- RJJinGadsden
  Posted on January 2, 2013 at 5:11pm
  Close, three. Sort of like the 0bamacare bill.
  
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Hoax And Chains
Posted on January 2, 2013 at 4:59pm
Not surprising. In the words of Nancy Pelosi (AKA Blinky), “We won’t know what’s in the bill until we pass it.”
This is responsible, trustworthy representation? Really?

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