Boehner takes to House floor to delay climate vote

Rep. John Boehner (R-Ohio) on Friday launched a highly unusual filibuster-like move to delay a vote on the Democrats' cap-and-trade bill.

The House minority leader is going through the bill page-by-page in a speech on the House floor to protest changes made to the measure at just after three a.m. on Friday.

Even though his allocated time to speak has expired, it is the custom of the lower chamber to allow the Speaker and the minority leader to speak beyond their allotated time.

"He's going to go until he's done," according to a GOP leadership aide.

Boehner's speech could delay the vote for hours, if not extend it until Saturday or beyond.

The bill's sponsor, Energy and Commerce Committeee Chairman Henry Waxman (D-Calif.), objected to Boehner's tactics but the presiding officer,  Rep. Ellen Tauscher (D-Calif.), said it is the custom of the House to allow the final speaker to continue talking as long as he or she wants.

Waxman acknowledged the existence of the "magic minute" but asked, "Are we going to break historical records?"

This new development comes after Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) spent the day furiously whipping her colleagues to round up the votes she needs to pass her signature cap-and-trade measure.

Reps. Patrick Kennedy (D-R.I.) and John Lewis (D-Ga.), who missed every vote this week, are in the House chamber. Rep. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) is expected to miss the vote if it occurs on Friday.

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