Washington, DC – Congressman Todd Akin (R-MO), made the following statement today regarding a discharge petition being circulated by representatives John Culberson (R-TX) and Greg Walden (R-OR) that would mandate that the public and Congress be given 72 hours to read a bill prior to it being voted on:
“I am signing the discharge petition that would require the Democratic majority to give three days to read a bill prior to voting on it.
“Not only is it a good idea to allow proper time for the study of proposed legislation, good governance demands it and proper representation cannot happen without it.
“The fact that the majority held a vote on the Cap and Trade energy tax bill after introducing a three hundred page amendment in the dead of night without time to read it, suggests that this is a measure that is needed now more than ever under a Democratic Congress.
“It is my belief that the only reason the majority would oppose such a measure is that the likely hood of passing a bill diminishes with a proper reading. Given what happened with the Cap and Trade bill their concern seems to be reality based.”
