Reid: Republicans Have Repeatedly Blocked Bipartisan Bills, And Hurt The Middle Class In The Process

[Bill USA]

http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/09/21/reid-republicans-have-repeatedly-blocked-bipartisan-bills-and-hurt-the-middle-class-in-the-process/
(emphases my own)

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today about Republican obstructionism in the Senate. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Over the last week, I’ve listened to my Republican colleagues come to the Senate floor to lament how little the Senate has accomplished during the 112th Congress.

I share that concern.

In fact, it’s a wonder we’ve gotten anything done at all, considering the lack of cooperation Democrats have gotten from our Republican colleagues.

I’ve said it before, but this bears repeating. In my time as Majority Leader, I have faced 382 Republican filibusters.

That’s 381 more filibusters than Lyndon Johnson faced during his six years as Majority Leader.

{in the 112th session of Congress 109 Cloture motions have been filed - Bill USA}

Time and again, my Republican colleagues have stalled or blocked perfectly good pieces of legislation to score points with the Tea Party – and they’ve hurt middle-class Americans in the process.

Even the most noncontroversial, consensus matters – items that would have passed by unanimous consent in the past – Republicans have obstructed or delayed.

Take the bipartisan sportsman’s bill, for example.

The Junior Senator from Montana, Senator Tester, has assembled a broad package of legislation to support the needs of sportsmen across the country.

This measure combines about 20 bills important to the sportsmen’s community – bills that would promote hunting, fishing and recreation.

They would foster habitat conservation through voluntary programs.

And more than 50 national sportsmen and conservation groups support Senator Tester’s bill.

We ought to pass this package in a matter of hours.

This should not be a fight.

Yet Republicans are forcing us to run out the clock on this bipartisan bill.

And, in the process, they’re holding up votes on several other important measures, including: Iran containment, confirmation of our ambassadors to Iraq and Pakistan and the continuing resolution to fund the government for six months.

Republicans say this Congress has been unproductive.

But if Republicans want to know why it’s been unproductive, they should take a look in the mirror.

Benjamin Franklin once said “Well done is better than well said.”

It’s time Republicans stopped talking about how much they want to get things done and started working with Democrats to actually get things done.

[elleng]

1. SHOUT THIS FROM THE ROOFTOPS!!!

[Bill USA]

4. Alas, since Obama took office it seems "filibuster" is a taboo word on Corporate Media. They

obediently continue to report on the state of the economy and specifically unemployment as if it's Obama's policies "not working"...."Why can't Obama get the economy going?".... they never ask "I wonder if all those jobs bills the GOP has filibustered, or the downsizing of the ARRA (38% of it turned into tax-cuts, which at the beginning of a depression will not be spent) break a GOP filibuster - or I wonder if threatening a closure of the Government, or threatening a default on the U.S. Debt (causing S&P to downgrade U.S. credit rating) MAY have scared businessmen into NOT hiring more full-time permanent workers because they aren't sure the GOP won't kill this recovery (businessmen don't want to hire full-time people only to lay them off in six months). I wonder if this just MIGHT BE holding back the recovery and holding UP the unemployment rate."

..... and maybe this is what McConnell had in mind when he said the Repubs first priority is to make Obama a one term president? Geee M$M, do you THINK SO?????

[Cha]

2. YRGGGGGGGGG!

[BlueJazz]

3. Good grief, if I ever get rich and open up a huge department store, I going to put a large sign..

...outside that says "No snakes, scorpions or republicans allowed inside...Ok, OK,,,snakes and
scorpians can enter"

[antigop]

5. I really wish more people understood the Republican obstructionism.

I think just mentioning the number of filibusters to people would increase their awareness.

I'm sure the mainstream media will help....NOT!

[Bill USA]

6. ever since Obama enterred the WH it seems the word 'filibuster' is a taboo word on M$M.

Here's a pretty good summary (if I do say so myself) of the major acts of legislative sabotage the GOPers have committed.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1251114208