Reid blames GOP 'filibuster' for public works bill stalemate

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) implored his Republican colleagues on Monday to abandon their "filibuster" and allow the Senate to move forward on job-creating legislation.

"The American people wait while the Republicans filibuster," said Reid.

Reid was referring to about 90 mostly non-germane amendments that Republicans have filed on the Public Works and Economic Development Administration (EDA) funding bill that is currently pending on the Senate floor. The sheer number of amendments, combined with an apparent unwillingness for cooperation in reducing their number, makes it likely the underlying bill will die on the Senate floor when it faces a cloture vote Tuesday afternoon.

Reid read a list of several amendments Republicans have called up that included a wide array of topics such as immigration reform, E-Verify, the estate tax, right-to-work laws, gainful employment regulation, endangered species and light bulbs. Reid said the fact that only one amendment actually deals with the EDA is an indicator that Republicans don’t care about job creation.

After reading off the amendments, Reid asked, "If there were ever an example of such a tremendous waste of the Senate's time and the indication that the Republicans don't care anything about the American people working…"

Reid suggested Republicans have a more devious goal in mind.

"I guess their goal is 'let's make things as bad as they can … and maybe we will get somebody elected to replace President Obama,' " said Reid. "What other reason could there be?"