McCain: I’m ‘sick’ of ‘dictatorial’ Senate

Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) voiced frustration Thursday that the Senate is being run in a “dictatorial way.”

McCain’s remarks came as Democrats are passing several major pieces of legislation without an amendment process.

“It’s either take it or leave it,” McCain said on the Senate floor. “We’re getting sick and tired of the dictatorial way that the United States Senate is being run.”

{mosads}On Wednesday, the Senate passed a bipartisan budget deal without amendments and it is expected to do that same Thursday with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Democrats have argued it is necessary to complete the work before the end of the year because the House has already left for the holiday.

“By not even fully debating and amending this bill, you are doing a disservice to the men and women serving this nation,” McCain said. “We should be embarrassed at the process we are engaged in.”

Some Republicans have so far insisted on running out the procedural clock, forcing the full 30 hours of debate because they say they are upset Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) waited until the last minute to bring up the defense bill and changed filibuster rules last month.

McCain said bipartisanship in the Senate will only get worse because of the rule change, which limited the minority’s right to stop some executive and judicial nominations from advancing.

Reid has said that he would keep the Senate in session through Christmas Eve in order to clear 10 more of President Obama’s nominees.