I like the sound of this.
Stymied by Republicans on the Sept. 11 commission bill and a lobbying overhaul, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., threatened Friday to take away senators’ August vacation time.
Reid said he was not going to offer any more motions to go to conference on the Sept. 11 bill (H R 1, S 4) or the lobbying bill (S 1), a step Republicans have blocked thus far. Rather, the majority leader said he intends to wait for Republicans to say they want a deal.
While he waits, Reid said he is prepared to keep the Senate in session, perhaps late into the night, on weekends and into the August recess.
“We are not going to leave for August recess,” Reid said. “If it means our recess is going to go away, we’re going to complete those two pieces of legislation.”
Although I really don’t care whether the 9/11 Commission bill passes. It’s filled with extraneous bedwetting crap. But if they get the lobbying bill passed I will be very happy.
Now, I am not sure I like the sound of this.
Reid said the Senate will begin debate July 9 on the fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill (S 1547), which is likely to be the target of numerous Iraq-related amendments. But he would not commit to including similar [to the House] withdrawal language in that bill, given the difficulties of reaching the 60 votes needed to overcome a filibuster.
“I don’t know if we can or not,” Reid said. “We’re going to keep pushing, because it’s the right thing to do.”
Harry can be quite tough went he wants to be. Maybe he should cancel the August recess to punish recalcitrant Republicans that won’t vote their consciences on Iraq.
Another good reason for this: No recess appointments. Possibly that is playing in – if he can find a good reason to keep the Senate in session, he can deny Bush the ability to name incompetent toads to federal office, and ensure that the Repukeliscum are to blame.
“Talking tough” is an apt title for this post.
I’m more than a little familiar with Harry Reid’s unfortunate habit of talking tough and doing nothing.