This excuses for this happening are so bogus. Brewer, the Manhattan Borough President, said it was just a “smallish” part of a “long bill”.
In other words, they had to pass it to find out what was in it.
Maybe those that pass legislation should all have to be present for a group reading of all the bills and go around the room with each person reading a sentence aloud. If they are not present the entire time and do not participate in the reading, they shouldn’t get to vote.
If they are going to amend the bill, as they claim, why didn’t they go ahead and do it while they were all together?
“I was elected to lead, not to read.” - President Schwarzenegger