You expect your elected officials to read the laws they vote on, right? Well, Republican Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor Greene has admitted she didn’t. Greene recently came under fire after acknowledging she didn’t read a key section of Donald Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill” before voting in favor of it. That section? A 10-year block on state regulation of artificial intelligence (AI).
Had she known, Greene claims, she would have voted against the bill entirely.
“Full transparency, I did not know about this section on pages 278–279… I am adamantly OPPOSED to this,” Greene posted on X (formerly Twitter). “It is a violation of state rights, and I would have voted NO if I had known this was in there.”
Critics aren’t holding back
Her confession drew swift and brutal backlash from Democrats who had voted against the bill—largely because of the same provision Greene overlooked.
“You have one job. To. Read. The. F—ing. Bill,” wrote Rep. Eric Swalwell. Others chimed in with similar outrage. “PRO TIP: It’s helpful to read stuff before voting on it,” said Rep. Ted Lieu.
Rep. Mark Pocan didn’t hold back either: “Read the f**king bill instead of clapping for it like a performing monkey,” he wrote. “You didn’t. You own that vote.”
What’s in the AI provision?
Buried in the legislation just two nights before the bill’s markup, the AI provision blocks states and cities from regulating AI systems, including facial recognition, generative AI, and automated tools used in hiring, housing, and government services.
The only exception? If local laws are designed to help roll out these technologies faster.
This raises alarms for states that have already passed their own AI protections. If this becomes law, their regulations could be nullified—and for a full decade.
She’s not alone
Greene isn’t the only Republican caught off guard. Rep. Mike Flood of Nebraska also admitted he didn’t catch a section that limits federal judges from enforcing contempt orders. “I am not going to hide the truth: this provision was unknown to me when I voted for that bill,” he told angry constituents.
Voters weren’t forgiving. One shouted, “You voted for all of it!”
Elon Musk joins the critics
Even Trump ally Elon Musk is now calling the bill a “disgusting abomination.” Musk criticized it for being bloated and for driving the U.S. deficit up to a projected $2.5 trillion. “This massive, outrageous, pork-filled Congressional spending bill is a disgusting abomination,” Musk posted on X.
More than just AI
The backlash isn’t just about artificial intelligence. Democrats also point to the bill’s deep cuts to social programs, including Medicaid and food assistance. Rep. Delia Ramirez reminded Greene that over 149,000 of her own constituents could lose Medicaid because of the bill.
A lesson in reading the fine print
In the end, Greene is now calling on the Senate to strip out the AI provision before the bill becomes law. “We have no idea what AI will be capable of in the next 10 years,” she warned.
Maybe next time, she’ll read the bill before casting her vote.
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