Reid disappointed over GOP’s ‘stunt’ on Obama’s jobs bill

President Obama spent much of the last month touring the country promoting his $447 billion jobs plan and calling on Congress to pass the legislation immediately. Although Reid controls the schedule of the upper chamber, he has shown some reluctance to bring up the legislation, only promising to do so by the end of the current work period. The proposal stands little chance of passage in either chamber. 

On Tuesday, however, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) tried to call up the legislation for an immediate vote, and with little debate. His request for the vote was stymied by Reid, who argued that the Senate ought to consider the legislation through regular order. At the time, Reid called McConnell’s move a “political stunt” and a “charade.”

On Wednesday, McConnell quickly snapped back from across the aisle at Reid, arguing that by calling for a vote on Democrats’ latest stimulus package he was only heeding the president’s repeated call that the Congress vote on the legislation immediately, and unamended.

“Yesterday I tested the president’s rhetoric,” said McConnell. “I suggested we do exactly what he wants and vote right away … and the Democrats blocked it. In other words, the president’s own party is the only obstacle.”