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Jul. 01, 2009
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Reid realizes his 60 votes come with an asterisk

By MOLLY BALL
LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL

In theory at least, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid will have nearly unlimited power to pass legislation now that Al Franken is set to become the junior senator from Minnesota.

Tuesday's Minnesota Supreme Court decision deeming Franken, the Democrat and former comedian, the winner of November's election means Franken will become the 60th Democrat in the Senate, giving Reid a filibuster-proof majority.

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    • But as the Nevada Democrat pointed out Tuesday, he only has 60 votes "on paper," not in practice. And whether he can get all of the Democrats on the same page going forward will depend on what he's trying to get done in the Senate.

    Reid was participating in a blue-ribbon panel on energy in Las Vegas on Tuesday morning when he found out about the court's unanimous decision in the Franken case.

    Stopping the discussion, Reid held up his BlackBerry and said, grinning, "Hey guys, Franken wins 5-0 in Minnesota. So now I have 60 on paper."

    There were cheers from those assembled, who included political, business and environmental leaders from around the state.

    Republicans fear that their small minority will have no voice, and the Democrats will have unchecked power, with the 60-vote mark reached.

    But in a later interview, Reid noted that two Democratic senators, Robert Byrd of West Virginia and Edward Kennedy of Massachusetts, have been severely ill and unable to vote.

    Byrd was released from the hospital Tuesday after more than a month battling infection, his office announced, but it wasn't known whether the 91-year-old would return to the Senate.

    Because of those missing votes, Reid said, "it's not a real 60."

    In addition, he said, Democrats will not do everything on the Senate agenda on a party-line basis.

    "With energy and with health care, we're going to try to do it on a bipartisan basis," he said. "That's the best way to go, and we think we can do that. We're sure going to try."

    Reid noted that the Democrats in the Senate embody "a wide range of political philosophy," from conservative Democrat Ben Nelson of Nebraska to Bernie Sanders of Vermont, an independent who caucuses with the Democrats but calls himself a socialist. The group also includes almost 25 new senators elected or appointed since 2006.

    "I have an interesting caucus," Reid said. "I've been so fortunate that we've stuck together throughout my years as the Democratic leader." Given that range of views, "each issue that comes up, we have to work to come up with party unity, and we've done that and will continue to do that."

    Despite gestures of bipartisanship by President Barack Obama, there have been few Republican votes for key legislation this year, but Reid said he hopes that will change.

    "The president has reached out to the Republicans. I have reached out to the Republicans. And we have passed significant legislation -- we've been the most productive Congress since the first year of (the Franklin) Roosevelt (administration)," Reid said. "We haven't gotten a lot of Republican support, but enough. We hope in the months to come we get more than the handful we've gotten to this point."

    When the Senate reconvenes Monday, its agenda will include major legislation on climate change and health care; spending and defense authorization bills; and the U.S. Supreme Court nomination of Sonia Sotomayor.

    Contact reporter Molly Ball at mball@ reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2919.

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    Nevada Jack wrote on July 02, 2009 12:43 AM: Republicants (yes CANT) rant and rave ... there is no talking sense to them. If you live in Nevada ... whether R or D ... your better off having the MAJORITY LEADER OF THE US SENATE ... in your corner. But the imbecilic sun city saps will continue to rant and rave here ... nothing can be done to change that.


    David wrote on July 02, 2009 12:30 AM: Mr. Reid is a professional idiot. Holding up a blackberry and saying "now I have my 60"?! In other words "I have all the power to do whatever I want" and then say he "reached out" to Republicans? What arrogance. And I surely would not be smiling when I announced that Al Franken was a new Democratic Senator. That is like saying smiling and saying that Forrest Gump (although he would do better then Franken - he would be honest) just got elected to your party. Sorry to be offensive to Forrest! Al Franken was a terrible comedian, and could not even make a career of it. So the Democrats welcome him "into the fold" with open arms?! WOW! Apparently all you need to be is a "yes man" or "yes woman" in order to be welcomed by the democratic party. What happened to some pride in the democratic party? As Chris Rea said "This is the Road to Hell".


    John wrote on July 01, 2009 05:10 PM: Reaching out is like no new taxes. It's all words. This new carbon based initative is going to tax the bejesus out of everybody. Not just the rich. At the least it based on faulty science though! We do know that Pelosy has already invested between 50-100k in companys that stand to profit massively when this legislation is passed. Can you say "conflict of interest"? I know you can ...

    Glad Franken was put in office! Just in time for the Democratic Congress which includes good ol' Harry and his girl friend to finish ruining our country!

    This "Change you can believe in" has just about bankrupted our country.


    Steve wrote on July 01, 2009 12:49 PM: "The president has reached out to the Republicans. I have reached out to the Republicans."

    Harry, I'll say it plain and simple: You, sir, are a liar!

    If you and Obama "reached out to the Republicans", then why weren't any Republicans involved in the closed door meetings that removed things like E-Verify from the "stimulus" bill? I know you'll win again in 2010; it's guaranteed with the idiots who still think you are doing a good job. However, I guarantee that, even if no one runs against you, you will not get my vote. Wait until Americans see the amnesty bill you will now pass this year and how much more taxpayer money you're giving away in welfare to the illegals you're granting amnesty to because you know they will vote for you even though they know you're useless and a liar.


    Besh Cooper wrote on July 01, 2009 12:28 PM: I thought 61 merited the asterisk?


    NVN8VBryce wrote on July 01, 2009 08:53 AM: This guy needs to go back to Searchlight and he can take his majority with him! Obama promised change... we're changing alright, for the worse! Obama, Harry and Nancy need to get back to where they once belonged...


    really wrote on July 01, 2009 08:30 AM: by the way harry has lost a lot of the mormon vote....they do not back him like they did before...


    really wrote on July 01, 2009 08:28 AM: paying taxes is voluntary, NOT! if you do not pay them you can get fined and go to jail....

    the head of the irs said, "oops! I made a mistake." he was granted forgiveness and given the job. But let you or I do that and we end up in the toilet....

    No harry, paying taxes is not voluntary it is legal robbery by the U S government.


    really wrote on July 01, 2009 08:22 AM: a bipartisan basis=offer the other guy a deal he can't refuse, i.e., funding for a pet project, oor whatever else it will take.....in other words, "buy their vote!"


    harry comes with all of the support of the mormon mafia wrote on July 01, 2009 08:10 AM: .



    this mormon strong hold is very entrenched and very powerful.


    harry cannot be trusted.









    .


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