Reid hopes GOP won’t be afraid of ‘Tea Party overlords’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes Senate Republicans won’t be afraid of their “Tea Party overlords” and help Democrats raise the debt ceiling Wednesday. 

“It was just a few months ago that Republicans in the House — by a two-thirds majority — voted to keep the government closed and voted to default,” Reid said on the Senate floor Wednesday. “So I hope the Senate will not follow that Tea Party driven action.” 

{mosads}On Tuesday, the House voted 221-201 to raise the debt ceiling through March 2015 without any strings attached. Republican leaders allowed the vote after they realized they need Democrats to get it done.

“I commend Speaker [John] Boehner for doing the right thing,” Reid said. “I’m pleased that he has come to the realization that the full faith and credit of the United States is not a hostage.”

Reid said he wants the Senate to quickly pass the legislation Wednesday, but that some Republican senators are objecting.

“It’s too bad that a few Republicans would threaten a filibuster of this crucial legislation,” Reid said.

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) has said he would force a 60-vote majority on the bill, which doesn’t make any spending concessions. However, the Senate is likely to easily have the 60 votes necessary to advance it and pass it.