ReadtheBill.org today wrote to Rep. John Culberson (R-TX) to thank him for speaking out on the problem of Congress not having time to read bills, and to urge him to cosponsor the best solution -- H.Res. 504. Ellen Miller, Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation, also blogged about the letter. Following is an excerpt:

I noted with enthusiasm your recent twittering with Ellen Miller, Executive Director of the Sunlight Foundation, about the continuing problem of members and the public not having time to read bills before floor debate. I spoke briefly on the phone about this two weeks ago with Lindsay Smith of your staff, and tried to follow up with her again this week. Thank you for speaking up about this problem. We agree with you that this practice must end.

As you know, clause 4 of House rule XIII (legislation) and clause 8 of rule XXII (conference reports) contain the current three-day rule. Under both Republican and Democratic House majorities the three-day rule has been routinely waived by waiving “all points of order”. Often this is done for the mere convenience of committees that have failed to produce timely legislation that can bear scrutiny. Recent examples include the Farm Bill, Iraq supplemental and FISA bill. But there are many other instances over recent decades. For example, my organization released a report in October 2007 showing that no human could possibly have read 13 of 14 omnibus appropriations bills passed under both Democratic and Republican congressional majorities and presidents during 1982-2004. Another particularly egregious example was the 2003 Medicare prescription drug bill, the largest entitlement expansion in a generation.

As a solution to the problem you raise, ReadtheBill.org Foundation respectfully urges that you cosponsor H.Res. 504 -- the Baird resolution to establish a “72 hours online” rule.
read whole letter (PDF)