Reid, McConnell trade fire over stalled energy bill

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) ripped into Democrats Thursday for blocking an energy bill, telling them: “Do your job.”

“They couldn’t wait a single week before throwing an obstructionist wrench into the appropriations process they claim to want,” he said Thursday. “I hope they’re not dusting off the old filibuster summer playbook, especially in light of the letter they just sent to me about win-win opportunities and restoring regular order.”

McConnell responded after Democrats blocked the Senate from moving forward on the energy and water appropriations bill Wednesday because of their concerns about an Iran-related amendment from Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.).

{mosads}Cotton’s amendment would prevent the government from purchasing Iran’s heavy water, which can be used in nuclear reactors. Though the measure isn’t currently scheduled to get a vote, Democrats warn that its inclusion could lead to the president vetoing the overall bill.

The Senate is expected to take another vote on the energy bill Thursday before lawmakers leave town for a weeklong recess.

McConnell, who said he supports Cotton’s amendment, slammed Democrats’ strategy, saying they were willing to sink the appropriations bill “to prevent even the possibility of voting on this amendment.”

But Democrats argue that Cotton’s amendment amounts to a “poison pill.”

“If the Republicans insist on these poison pill amendments — and there’s no question that’s what it is — we’re going to have to continue as we have,” Minority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) fired back. “Now, it takes a lot of gall from my friend, the Republican leader, to talk about filibusters.”

After the rhetorical battle on the Senate floor, Adam Jentleson, a spokesman for Reid, called the Kentucky Republican “the world’s most accomplished hypocrite.”

“His self-righteous screeds about taking tough votes ring hollow while he leads an unprecedented effort to deny a vote to President Obama’s highly qualified Supreme Court nominee, Chief Judge Garland,” he said. “Meanwhile, if Senator McConnell would simply do his job and avoid getting blindsided by his fellow Republicans with poison pill riders, Democrats would be happy to help vote for the Energy and Water appropriations bill immediately.”

Though Democrats have praised the bipartisan appropriations bill, they huddled Wednesday morning — hours before a procedural vote — to discuss Cotton’s amendment and the path forward.

If every Republican supports the legislation, GOP leadership would still need the support of at least six Democrats to move forward. Four Democrats voted Wednesday to move forward.

It’s not the first time an amendment from Cotton has gummed up the Senate. Cotton and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), a former presidential candidate, tried to force a vote last year on requiring Iran to recognize Israel’s right to exist.

But GOP leadership have come to Cotton’s defense in the energy fight. Cotton also told MSNBC’s “Morning Joe” Thursday that he’s talking with Democrats about moving ahead.

“They suggested voting on a stand-alone bill, something I would consider,” he said.

But he also slammed Democrats, saying that “they know that the policy is indefensible and they would rather just block the entire bill.”