US Senate

Updated November 19, 2009

Coburn Backs Off Threat to Read Health Care Bill in Senate

AP

The Oklahoma lawmaker says there's uncertainty about whether reading the bill during Thanksgiving week would be productive. 

WASHINGTON -- Republican Sen. Tom Coburn is backing off his threat to require that the Senate read the 2,074-page health care bill because some GOP colleagues aren't supporting the effort. 

The Oklahoma lawmaker said there's uncertainty about whether reading the bill during Thanksgiving week would be productive. He also said that if the Republicans do decide to tie up the Senate for the dozens of hours it would take, six GOP colleagues have committed to pitching in on reading duty. 

Coburn also said in an interview with The Associated Press that he questions whether Americans who might be listening in would understand a line-by-line reading. 

Coburn, who is a doctor, said he wants Americans and other senators to know what's in the bill.

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