Posted on 11/03/2010 1:19:46 PM PDT by jazusamo
The top three Senate Democrats said the onus was on the newly-strengthened GOP conference to cooperate on legislation next year.
Republicans picked up six Senate seats Tuesday night, not enough to take control of the chamber but the new numbers will make it harder for Democrats to get the necessary 60 votes to proceed on controversial legislation.
Majority Leader Harry Reid (Nev.), Majority Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Democratic Conference Vice Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.), in a conference call with reporters Wednesday, pledged to work with the Republicans but also emphasized the GOP’s responsibility to not block legislation.
Reid, especially, renewed a threat he made before, that Republicans must stop obstructing and start cooperating. The majority leader, who survived a close re-election battle, said he spoke early Wednesday afternoon with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.).
“Republicans must take their responsibility to solve the problems of ordinary Americans,” Reid said. “Simply saying ‘No,’ as we’ve had this past Congress… won’t bring jobs back. It won’t strengthen the economy, and it won’t help families who are struggling to make ends meet. ‘No’ is not the answer. It has to be ‘Yes.’ Not our ‘Yes,’ but a combined ‘Yes,’ something we work out — a consensus ‘Yes.’”
“Playing to a draw in the United States Senate for political score is not acceptable to the American people,” added Durbin. “We need to work together. The Senate will be the crucible for some of the most important issues of our day.”
Specifically, Schumer said the 112th Congress will “focus on the middle class like a laser,” and that he expects, as per tradition, Republicans will insist on tax cuts and Democrats will defend spending on infrastructure. However, Schumer also acknowledged Democrats “don’t have the monopoly on knowledge.”
Asked about the lame-duck session scheduled to start on Nov. 15, Reid said “a number of issues” could be taken up and that he has begun talks with McConnell on the agenda.
Pointedly, however, Reid signaled that Democrats would likely vote against a wholesale extension of the 2001 and 2003 tax cuts signed by President George W. Bush, which expire at the end of the year. Democrats would agree to extending the cuts for middle-class families, Reid said, but allowing them for wealthy Americans “is not going to happen” because it would cost $4 trillion.
President Obama has pressed for the cuts to be extended for families making $250,000 or less while Republicans want an across-the-board extension.
Pressed on how Congress could function in a divided state in 2011, with a Republican-controlled House and Democratic-controlled Senate, Reid repeated that the answer lies with GOP leaders.
“When this government was set up in the 18th Century, they knew that there would be problems… This has all happened before,” he said. “The message I repeat today is that the ball is in their court.
“53 (seats), over my long time in the Senate, is a pretty good majority… We’re comfortable where we are, and we have made the message very clear that we want to work with Republicans. If they’re unwilling to work with us, there’s not a thing we can do about that, but the American people can see that like a very slow curve ball.”
The Senate will have some new members in the lame duck. The winners of contests in Delaware, West Virginia and Illinois will be sworn-in immediately. Democrats held two of the seats with Chris Coons (D) winning in Delaware and Joe Manchin (D) winning in West Virginia, but Republicans took Illinois. Rep. Mark Kirk (R) won that seat.
Ping.
You know, I hate to admit that I’m from NY sometimes.
They’re WARNING others?
I guess they don’t want anyone usurping their dynasty.
Someone remind Schumer, Reid, and co, that they just hung or are about to hang /Baghdad Bob for making such threats to a knowing populace.
Doesn’t Vegas already have skyrocketing unemployment & home foreclosures??? WAIT HARRY, it’s gonna get worse!
What a lie. Dems don't spend on infrastructure.
They line their own pockets and inflict on us what they wish and then tax us to pay for all of it.
Hey, yeah! Mebbe his ear-hole will get caught between the pistol and the air!
Today is Jim Robinsons’ birthday..If you haven’t donated to FR, today would be a good day to give.
Democrats better not PUSH their crap though the “Lame-Duck” session of Congress, and they better not obstruct the Republican Congress ability to rein in their bad legislation!~ HARRY REID; you have read the mandate for this congress wrong.
I disagree. An election stolen becomes the victor’s worst nightmare post haste. The only thing worse than damaged goods is corrupt damaged goods. Dmage control in Nevada will have to be so overwhelming, that there is little time for anything else for Harry to do. He’s his own victim.
If the Republicans in the House learned anything from the election then it'll be the Democrats in the Senate blocking legislation and not the GOP.
Manchin has 6 long years now to not follow through on his conservative promises. I hold out no hope this guy is going to vote very often with the Republicans.
GO TO HELL HARRY!!
P.S. HAVE A GREAT BIRTHDAY!!
But still, on the whole last night was an incredibly victory overall for our side. A huge, huge loss right at Obama (compare last night to 2002 or 2004, where the Country backed GWB and we gained seats). Obama lost 60 + seats in the House and 6 in the Senate. Huge losses in total.
Thanks for posting the list. We know whom to focus on beginning now.
Sen. Dems ‘WARN’?!
>>Senate Dems warn GOP not to block legislation
Or else.. what?
Like hell they don't! They just spend on infrastructure in such a way that we citizens catch in our wallets time and time again.
Currently in Western PA, homeowners are being forced into a sewage system at legal gunpoint. Don't want to pay that tap in fee? Lawyers filing against you; going for garnishment first, anything else next. Pay the fee but don't tie in? Get billed for monthly usage (even though you have not used anything!); lawyers come into play and they lein on your home. I'm not talking suburbia here, I'm talking out in the sticks.
"Shovel Ready"? Their ripping up little one laner bridges in that yokel area's left and right. The caveat? The jobs usually get done early (good job guys; seriously), but the bridges remain closed until the "projects" actual completion date (in other words, people getting paid on a job that is already done; and we can't use the damn things we are getting taxed on!!!).
I-79 in PA? Hell, it's riddled with orange pylons continually, same with Rt 60 and the turnpike. They just keep ripping up the same pieces over and over and over...WV doesn't seem to have these road problems. Hell, even Ohio has better roads.
When it comes to PA, Fed $$$ and Dem's, they'll keep the Fed $$$ for their pet peeves, tax us on promised work with said Fed $$$ and legal up on all of us when they can't get their way!!!!
I'm so sick of the damn lies by these cowards! They didn't just say "NO" they offered ideas and they were REJECTED, you A-Hole, Harry Reid and the rest of you lying jack*sses!
I don't think they are in any position to be warning anyone! In fact, 2012 is just around the corner and we can take out a few more of you lying arrogant dumb*sses (who think we are all too stupid to figure it out) including Obama!
...or else what, Harry?
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