Reid blasts GOP for obstructing Senate progress

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blasted Republicans Saturday for obstructing Congress’ progress and accused the GOP of voting against legislation just to prevent the upper chamber from moving forward.

{mosads}“Voting against a bill on a matter of principle is one thing,” Reid said in the Democrats’ Saturday radio address. “But Republican obstruction has gotten so bad that now they’re blocking bills that they actually support.”

Reid alleged that Republicans are resorting to dilatory tactics to prevent the ethics reform bill, which originally passed by a vote of 96 to 2, from going to conference. Additionally, the majority leader cited the GOP’s original support for legislation implementing the recommendations of the 9/11 Commission. Republicans are now “blocking” that bill from going to conference with the House version, he said.

“To go forward, we will need far more Republicans to put partisan politics aside and work with us for the American people,’ Reid added.

Because of his frustration with the GOP’s tactics, Reid said Friday that he will cut into August recess unless those two pieces of legislation are finished next week.

The Majority Leader added that even though more Republicans have voiced their opposition to the president’s policy in Iraq, “we’ll soon find out if they have the courage to vote the right way” when the Defense Authorization bill is considered next week.