Cornyn Unsuccessfully Tries to Divert Health Care Bill
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn (Texas) on Sunday afternoon attempted to have the manager’s amendment to the Democratic health care bill set aside and bring up another piece of legislation, but the move was quickly killed by Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), denying the GOP the opportunity to further delay action on the reform package.Cornyn, in the middle of delivering remarks during GOP floor time in advance of a 1 a.m. Monday cloture vote on the manager’s amendment to the health care bill, diverted from his remarks and asked the chairman to set aside the pending amendment in favor of another proposal. Durbin quickly objected, and Cornyn went back to remarks and a colloquy with other Republican Senators.The GOP on Saturday demanded a full reading of the manager’s amendment, a tactic that caused all floor business to stop until the task was complete.