Representative John Conyer, Jr. (D-Mi) is quoted as saying "We don't read most of the bills. Do you really know what that would entail if we read every bill that we passed?" Congressman Conyers then answers his own rhetorical question, asserting that if they did it would "slow down the legislative process".
It took 28 congresses from 1789-1845 to fill 5 volumes of "Statutes at Large".
Every law, public and private, ever enacted by the Congress is published in the Statutes at Large in order of the date of its passage.
In the mid to late 1800's one volume was filled by approximately 2 congresses (4 years) each.
Three volumes (117-120) were filled by 108th congress.
Yes, I know things were a lot different back then, but why are we filling three volumes of legislation in two years? What are they legislating and why?
Call me crazy but maybe it's time for our Representatives and Senators to stop collecting money from lobbyists and actually READ the statutes that they are voting on.
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