Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) called the passage of rules changes in the Senate Thursday evening progress “towards ending gridlock in the Senate.” Reid also thanked the senators who had pushed hardest for filibuster reform, even as he acknowledged that the changes do “not go as far as they and others would have wanted.”
The full statement from Reid:
Today, we took steps towards ending gridlock in the Senate, and making this body a more efficient place while still respecting the rights of the minority. Americans of all political stripes can agree that Washington is not working the way it should. We were elected to get things done for the middle class – not waste time with endless stalling tactics that cause even bills with broad bipartisan support to languish for weeks. These reforms will allow us to deal with legislation in a more timely fashion, and weaken the ability of those who seek to obstruct for obstruction’s sake.
I want to thank my colleagues Senators Merkley, Udall, and Harkin, who have worked tirelessly and passionately to make the Senate more responsive to the needs of the middle class. This proposal does not go as far as they and others would have wanted. But it is a step forward.
It is my hope that these reforms will help restore a spirit of comity and bipartisan cooperation. If these reforms do not do enough to end the gridlock here in Washington, we will consider doing more in the future.
