Harry Reid is one unhappy Democrat. With his job as Senate Majority Leader on the line in the coming elections, the Nevada senator has come up with a new and unique complaint. He is upset that Republicans failed to obstruct a constitutional amendment he has championed for months, and which he had brought to the Senate floor on Monday for a preliminary vote. Yes, it sounds odd, especially given that Reid complains so often about Republican obstructionism. But when Reid scheduled Mondays cloture vote on a proposed amendment to the Constitution limiting the freedom of political speech, he intended for Republicans to shut it down quickly. Instead, they voted to advance it to a full floor debate and an up-or-down vote. This means there will now be a long debate over the constitutional amendment by Sen. Tom Udall, D-N.M. It will provide Reid with ample time to denounce the billionaire libertarian Koch Brothers to his hearts content. But Reid doesnt really want this. Not only might this debate become harmful to his cause (Democrats are, after all, trying to change the Bill of Rights) but it leaves less floor time to bring other symbolic measures up for a vote. Specifically, the debate over the Udall amendment complicates Reids plans to hold equally meaningless, politically charged votes on bills to raise the minimum wage and make it easier to sue over gender pay inequality. Reid is aiming to recess the Senate by Sept. 23 to give Democrats time to campaign for re-election.
Posted on: Wed, 10 Sep 2014 12:02:51 +0000
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