The Reluctant Harry Reid

            Harry Reid, senate majority leader praised the House Friday morning for approving H.R. 3765, extending the payroll tax holiday and unemployment insurance for two months, and preventing a planned cut to reimbursements for Medicare physicians.

                 Reid said that the year has been a learning experience for the new members of the 112^th congress.  They’ve learned that politics is the art of compromise.  They’ve learned that they should not wage partisan battles to settle ideological scores.  Both he and President Obama have criticized the House Republicans for playing politics on every issue.

              I hope the year has been a learning experience for the American people. It is patently obvious that it has been Harry Reid who has been playing politics. The house has passed several budget bills and many jobs bills all of which sit on Harry’s desk because he refuses to bring them to the floor.  He knows that some of his Senate Democrats would vote for them and he afford that.

                 He was even reluctant to bring President Obama’s budget bill, his “pass it now…pass it now, pass it now” jobs bill to the floor of the senate for discussion.  He obviously wanted to avoid being embarrassed because he knew that the Democrats would unanimously vote against it.

                You may disagree with the ideology behind the bills passed by the house, but I am sure you would agree that they should be discussed, called to question on the Senate floor.  Here are a few.  You’ll notice that all of them passed with bi-partisan support, some with significant bi-partisan support.  All were refused for consideration by one voice, Harry Reed.

1) The Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act (H.R 872) passed 292-130 March 31, 2011

2) The Energy Tax Prevention Act (H.R. 910)  passed 255-172 on April 7, 2011

3) Preventing the feds from regulating the internet.  (H.J. Res. 37) passed 240 to 179 on April 8, 2011

4) Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act (H.R 1230) passed 266-149 on May 5, 2011.

5) Reinstating oil drilling permits in the Gulf Coast (H.R. 1229) passed 263-163 on May 11, 2011.

6) Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act (H.R 1231) passed 243-179 on May 12, 2011

7) Expedite the process for offshore drilling permit (H.R 2021) passed 255-166 on June 22, 2011.

8) The Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act (H.R 2018) passed 239 to 184 on July 13, 2011.

9) Council to vote to set aside harmful federal regulation (H.R. 1315)  passed 241-173 on July 21, 2011.

10) Expediting the operation of the Keystone XL pipeline (H.R. 1938) passed 279-147 on July 26, 2011.

11) Give companies flexibility to operate in states that provide opportunity for growth (H.R. 2587) passed 238-186 on September 15, 2011.

12) The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts (TRAIN) Act (H.R. 2401), passed 249-169 on September 23, 2011.

13) The Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2681) passed 262-161 on October 6, 2011.

14) The EPA Regulatory Relief Act (H.R. 2250) Passed 275-142 on October 13, 2011.

15) The Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (H.R. 2273) passed 276-144 on October 14, 2011.