Senators pepper bill’s sponsor with questions, but don’t debate the bill…

Sens. Monty Pearce, R-New Plymouth, and Steve Vick, R-Dalton Gardens, have, like Sen. Dean Mortimer before them, asked a series of questions of Sen. John Tippets, R-Montpelier, the floor sponsor of the health insurance exchange bill, without actually debating the bill.

When the questions began, Tippets offered this comment: “I’ve been notified that there may be many questions asked, and I just want to remind the Senate the purpose of asking the questions is to obtain information that one doesn’t have. It’s not to be used as a debate strategy, nor in an attempt to interject debate into the discussion.” He said he’d be happy to yield to questions, with that caveat.

Now, Sen. Bert Brackett, R-Rogerson, is asking a series of questions of Tippets. Brackett then offered this debate: “I understand and I share your concern about the whole issue that we’re facing. I guess I do not see the difference between two years ago and today.”