In a startling turn of events on Capitol Hill, Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene has come under fire from both Democrats and political observers for confessing that she had not read Donald Trump’s new tax and spending package before backing it. What’s causing people to be so angry? A concealed law that states cannot regulate artificial intelligence for ten years.
The One Big Beautiful Bill (OBBB) is a lengthy, contentious piece of legislation. Pages 278-279 contain language that would prohibit states from enacting any laws governing AI models, automated decision-making tools, or facial recognition technologies until 2035. Greene, who fought for the measure’s passage, has now publicly changed his views.
She wrote on X (formerly Twitter), “I am adamantly opposed to this.” “This goes against the rightsof the state, and if I had known this was in there, I would have voted NO.” Her disclosure sparked immediate indignation.
Lawmakers are angry
Democratic representatives soon responded. Eric Swalwell, a lawmaker, responded harshly: “You have one job.” To Read the Bill. Greene’s coworker, Ted Lieu, concurred with him, reminding him that he had read the AI part and voted against the bill as a result. “You didn’t,” Representative Mark
Pocan answered, cutting through the confusion. That vote is yours.
The experience has raised new concerns about how legislators are increasingly backing large bills without fully comprehending them. Greene isn’t the only one. At a recent town hall, Nebraska Representative Mike Flood disclosed that he was unaware of key provisions of the bill, including a section that curtailed federal judges’ ability to execute contempt orders.
A Bill that will affect many people
In addition to the AI component, there have been other objections regarding the bill. Experts in technology and privacy argue that allowing AI companies to do whatever they want for ten years may stifle innovation, make things less clear, and weaken consumer protection legislation in states such as California, Illinois, and Vermont, where extensive AI frameworks are already in place. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has previously stated that state-level AI regulation is critical to preventing bias in hiring, surveillance, and algorithmic welfare judgments.
Billionaire Elon Musk added fuel to the fire by calling the idea a “disgusting abomination” on X, claiming it will cost an additional 2.5 trillion dollars to the national deficit. His message alone received millions of views, making many Trump supporters even angrier.
Fallout In Greene’s Backyard
Democrats have also claimed that Greene overlooked other negative aspects of the bill. According to Congresswoman Delia Ramirez, around 150,000 of Greene’s constituents may lose Medicaid coverage as a result of the plan’s budgetary revisions. Yvette Clarke didn’t hold back either:
“Reading is important!” If your coworkers hadn’t been so intent on shoving a bill down our throats in the middle of the night, you might have noticed this, Sis!
As the bill moves to the Senate, Greene is attempting to get as far away from the AI gag clause as possible. She has urged other Republicans to oppose it before it is passed, stating, “We have no idea what AI will be able to do in the next 10 years.”
This narrative is a warning to both voters and lawmakers about the pitfalls of prioritizing political performance over policy expertise, as well as the very real consequences of failing to do your homework.
