Reid: Tea Party-dominated House a ‘dark’ and ‘disorganized’ legislative hole

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) denounced the Republican-controlled House on Thursday for its vote to drop the Senate’s highway funding bill — legislation that took Reid nearly five weeks to shepherd through the upper chamber.

“They are so disorganized, in such a state of disrepair, the House of Representatives, that they can’t even extend the highway bill,” said Reid. “I don’t know what’s in their minds.

{mosads}”Over in the big dark hole we now refer to as the Tea Party-dominated House of Representatives, we couldn’t do it,” continued the majority leader. “Republicans in the House are talking as if it’s some socialist program that was developed at Harvard or some other radically liberal place. I can’t imagine what their mindset is. “

Reid is angry because House Republicans on Wednesday voted to set aside the Senate’s bipartisan $109 billion transportation bill with just 10 days remaining before federal transportation funds are set to run dry. House leaders on Thursday plan to introduce a ninth consecutive short-term funding bill that would continue transportation spending at current levels for 90 days. 

Reid, however, who controls the Senate’s schedule, suggested on Thursday that he will attempt to pressure House Republicans to swallow the bill crafted in the Senate by refusing to bring their short-term extension to the Senate floor.

“Funding for our highway system terminates the end of this month,” said Reid. “I am not inclined to go for this short-term extension they sent us.

“They are going to have to feel the heat of the American people,” he continued. ” ‘They’ meaning the Tea Party-driven House of Representatives.”