Reid ends contentious week with parting shot

A week of consistent partisanship in the Senate ended Friday much as it began, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) accusing Republicans of obstructing steps to solve the gas crisis and the GOP firing back that Democrats are more responsible for the economic downturn.

{mosads}Reid held a press conference with Democrats Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota and Byron Dorgan of North Dakota, in which he said Republicans all week blocked legislation to scrutinize inflating gas prices.

"There are many things that Republicans are stopping that relate to what happens to everyday Americans," Reid said.

Reid took particular aim at President Bush’s background in the Texas oil business, and reminded reporters of Vice President Dick Cheney’s 2001 energy task force meetings with industry executives.

"Someday maybe we’ll find out what took place in those secret meetings," Reid said. "We do know this is the most friendly administration to oil in the history of this country. They both made their fortunes in oil and they’ve treated the oil companies accordingly."

Even before Reid spoke, Senate Republicans issued a press release stating that the worst elements of the faltering economy have occurred on the Democrats’ watch, in the year and a half since the party took over Congress in January 2007.

The release said the Democratic agenda would raise gas prices, "saddle millions of Americans with higher tax bills," "$1 billion in tariffs," "job losses" and "tax breaks for trial attorneys."Republicans contend that Democrats are blocking reasonable attempts to increase drilling, such as in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge and off the Gulf Coast.