Reid: GOP broke ‘my legislative heart’

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Wednesday that Republican obstruction last week of a tax break bill broke his “legislative heart.”

“They’ve broken my legislative heart so many times,” Reid said on the Senate floor. “That caucus has ruined a lot of legislation.”

{mosads}Senate Republicans voted against a bill last week that many of them co-sponsored. It would have extended more than 50 tax breaks for two years. Reid said Republican obstruction has gotten out of control if the party no longer supports legislation that reduces the tax burden for families and businesses.

“Republicans blocked tax cuts that help American families and businesses as they recover from the recession,” Reid said. “Now the Republicans are against tax breaks. … It’s hard to comprehend how little they want to get done.”

Reid said the only thing Republicans have done is made the public anxious because Congress needs to pass a tax extender bill by the end of the year or else taxes will go up.

Republicans blocked the bill because Reid wouldn’t allow any amendments to be considered. Republicans have also recently blocked a bipartisan energy efficiency bill, raising the federal minimum wage and a pay equity bill.