I always chuckle when I hear people talk about the need to "read the bill" because I know full well most people on Capitol Hill could read legislation and not understand what's in it.
A perfect example is the budget deal worked out last Friday night, which averted a government shutdown.
There are a few non-budget items in this bill, but you would be hard pressed to figure out what they are.
My colleague Lisa Desjardins at CNN Radio helped me find this one, when I couldn't locate it in the bill - even though I knew this provision was included.
This section of the bill - well, wait - I'll let you read it and figure out what it does:
SEC. 1713. Before the end of the 60-day period beginning on the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of the Interior shall reissue the final rule published on April 2, 2009 (74 Fed. Reg. 15123 et seq.) without regard to any other provision of statute or regulation that applies to issuance of such rule. Such reissuance (including this section) shall not be subject to judicial review and shall not abrogate or otherwise have any effect on the order and judgment issued by the United States District Court for the District of Wyoming in Case Numbers 09–CV–118J and 09–CV–138J on November 18, 2010.
Without doing any internet searches, do you have any idea what this would do?
Of course not.
Your answer is that it has to do with wolves.
"(T)he legislation contains language reinstating the Fish and Wildlife Service’s original determination to delist wolves in states with approved management plans in place. It returns management of wolf populations in Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, and Utah to the states," states an explanation from the House Appropriations Committee.
I do urge people to "read the bill" as often as possible.
But I also know that unless you have a law degree, or some distinct experience in Legislative Mumbo Jumbo, you might not know what you are reading either.
If I find any more gems, I'll add them on later today.
