Sen. Harry Reid (D- Nev.) promised Wednesday to not play political games and to not obstruct the new Republican-led Senate when he is forced to step aside as Majority Leader. Of course, he couldn’t help but throw some blame the GOP’s way in the process.
“I am ready, Mr. President, to work with him in good faith to make this institution function again for the American people. I saw firsthand how a strategy of destruction was debilitating to our system,” he said as quoted by The Hill. “I have no desire to engage in that manner.”
Despite the long list of House-passed bills Reid did not allow to come forward, Democrats have long maintained that it was Republicans’ use of filibusters over the past four years that paralyzed the Senate and led to a lower overall public opinion of Congress.
With the Republicans taking over control some had speculated whether Reid and the Democrats might seek revenge by turning the strategy around on them. Reid stated that was not his intent.
“I have been able to strike compromise with my Republican colleagues and I’m ready to do it again. Regardless of how you may interpret last week’s election results, it’s clear the American people want us to join together to get things done for the middle class and all Americans,” he said. “We should be able to do that.”
