GOPers block Reid on ethics, lobbying, 9/11 Commission

Republicans yesterday blocked Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) from going to conference on two centerpieces of this year’s legislative agenda, in one case offering a vote on another Democratic bill that the GOP has bottled up for weeks.

When Reid attempted to appoint conferees for talks with the House on the legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations, Republicans objected and requested assurances that the measure would not give collective bargaining rights to employees of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). President Bush has threatened to veto the 9/11 Commission bill, citing the TSA provision.

{mosads}Reid then sought to appoint conferees on the ethics and lobbying bill that Democrats touted as their top agenda item for this Congress. Again, Republicans objected, suggesting that the GOP hold on a bill requiring electronic filing of Senate campaign-finance reports be lifted and debate begin on a single amendment to that measure.

While Senate Democrats and most Republicans strongly support the electronic-filing bill, Reid said no one on his side of the aisle had seen the mystery GOP amendment.

“Every day Republicans delay is another day we are not as safe as we should be. Every day Republicans delay, they are endorsing the status quo on ethics,” Reid said in a later statement. “Republicans need to stop wasting time — the American people’s time.”