“A clean debt ceiling increase that allows the United States to meet its existing obligations should be the standard.”

“Congress will continue to work to reduce the deficit. But we’ll do it without the threat of default over our heads.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today about the Senate’s upcoming vote on the House-passed legislation to suspend the debt ceiling. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery.

Later today, the Senate will vote on the House-passed legislation to suspend the debt ceiling until this summer and remove the specter of default hanging over the nation’s economy. I expect this legislation will pass on a strong, bipartisan vote – sending the message loud and clear that, while we are willing to negotiate on many things, we will not engage in another irresponsible debate over whether the United States government should pay its bills. I would remind my Republican colleagues that most of them voted to incur the debts now coming due. And suspending the debt limit won’t authorize a penny of new spending – but it will ensure we pay the bills we’ve already incurred.

I was reassured by House Republicans’ decision last week to back off their reckless threat to hold the debt ceiling hostage. The legislation before the Senate sets an important precedent – that the full faith and credit of the United States will no longer be used as a pawn to extract painful cuts to Medicare, Social Security or other initiatives that benefit the middle class. A clean debt ceiling increase that allows the United States to meet its existing obligations should be the standard.

Congress will continue to work to reduce the deficit. But we’ll do it without the threat of default over our heads. We have already made nearly $2.5 trillion in historic, bipartisan deficit reduction. Democrats believe we should do more. And it’s critical that we use a balanced approach that couples smart spending cuts with revenue from the wealthiest Americans and from closing wasteful tax loopholes.

Obviously, Democrats would prefer a longer suspension of the debt ceiling, which would provide additional economic stability as we continue to find ways to decrease the deficit. Raising the possibility that the United States could default on its obligations every few months is not an ideal way to run a government. But a short-term solution is better than another imminent, manufactured crisis.

Even Republicans admit default would rock our financial system to its core. However, injecting uncertainty into the system every few months also has a chilling effect on the economy. This insecurity doesn’t just affect big investment banks or wealthy investors. It costs jobs. And all around the country, ordinary Americans with 401k’s and college savings accounts are affected.

I am glad Republicans set aside their plan to gamble with default. It was bad politics and even worse policy. Middle-class Americans remember the last time Republicans put us through a protracted fight over the debt ceiling in an effort to force deep cuts to Social Security, Medicare and other programs important to the middle class. They remember how the Tea Party forced the nation to the brink of default in 2011 – sending the stock market into a tailspin and prompting a historic downgrade of America’s credit rating. They remember how the economy suffered, and their own bottom lines suffered with it. They remember the consequences of Republicans’ willingness to threaten a national default. I’m relieved that this time Congress was able to reach a compromise and avoid a fight, so middle-class families get the certainty they badly need.

“Fixing our broken immigration system is an urgent priority, and I fully support the efforts of the bipartisan group of senators seeking to solve this issue. We need a comprehensive solution that includes a tough but fair path to citizenship for the estimated eleven million individuals in our country who are undocumented, and a plan to secure our borders. This framework meets those criteria, and I am very encouraged to see this group making progress and finding common ground. The true test of our leadership will be passing common-sense legislation, and nothing short of success will be acceptable.

“President Obama has made immigration reform a top priority for his administration, and I thank him for his leadership. With bipartisan support building in both houses of Congress and a President eager to solve this problem, we should be able to get this done in the months ahead. The American people want a solution, our economy requires a solution, and families across America are praying for a solution. Now is the time to act.”

“Democrats will hold fast to the guiding principle that a strong middle class – and an opportunity for every American to enter that middle class – is the key to this nation’s success.”

“But not a single piece of important legislation can pass the Senate or become law without the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. So we will also be willing to compromise and to work with our colleagues across the aisle.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding compromise and Democrats’ legislative priorities for the 113th congress. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Today – with the inspiration of the second inauguration of President Barack Obama fresh in our minds – we renew our effort to fulfill the promise of prosperity for every American. The theme of yesterday’s inauguration was “faith in America’s future.” Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. – whose birth and life we also celebrated Monday – once said, “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” I have faith that the members of the 113th Congress will bring this nation closer to realizing that promise of prosperity.

The last Congress was too often characterized by sharp political divides – divides that hampered efforts to foster success for all Americans. I am hopeful – cautiously optimistic – that the 113th Congress will be characterized not by our divisions, but by our renewed commitment to cooperation and compromise. I urge every woman and every man fortunate enough to serve in this Chamber to remember: It is possible to hold fast to your principles while making the compromises necessary to move our country forward.

Democrats will hold fast to the guiding principle that a strong middle class – and an opportunity for every American to enter that middle class – is the key to this nation’s success. Democrats will stand strong – strong for the standard of balance. And we will remain resolute – resolute in the pursuit of fairness for all Americans, regardless of where they were born or the color of their skin, regardless of the size of their bank accounts, regardless of their religion or their sexual orientation.

Those principles will direct our course as we introduce our first ten bills today – a tradition in the United States Senate – and as we mend our broken immigration system, strengthen our schools and rebuild our roads and bridges. Those principles will be foremost in our minds as we balance the right to bear arms with the right of every child to grow up safe from gun violence. Those principles will be our North Star as we work to end wasteful tax loopholes and balance thoughtful spending reductions with revenue from the wealthiest among us. And those principles will point the way as we work to ensure this country’s uniformed service members never struggle to find employment when their military duties end. Through every struggle and every triumph, those principles must be our guide.

But not a single piece of important legislation can pass the Senate or become law without the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. So we will also be willing to compromise and to work with our colleagues across the aisle.

Unfortunately, a number of bipartisan bills passed by the Senate during the last Congress were never acted upon by the House of Representatives. So this year the Senate will also revisit some of the legislative priorities of the 112th Congress. We will take up the Violence Against Women Act, the farm bill, historic reforms to save the United States Postal Service and legislation to make whole the victims of Hurricane Sandy. Each of these initiatives passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis after deliberation and debate during the 112th Congress, but was left to languish by the House of Representatives.

The Senate will continue to help our fellow Americans recover from Hurricane Sandy before another, similar disaster strikes. Hundreds of thousands of homes and businesses were destroyed in New York, New Jersey and New England, and tens of thousands of Americans were left homeless by this destructive storm. We have a responsibility to aid our countrymen as they rebuild and their lives and their communities – as we have after terrible floods, fires and storms in other parts of our nation. Once we complete that vital legislation, the Senate will take action to make this institution that we all love work more effectively. We will consider changes to the United States Senate rules.

Because this matter warrants additional debate, today we will follow the precedents set in 2005 and again in 2011. We will reserve the right of all Senators to propose changes to the Senate rules. And we will explicitly not acquiesce in the carrying over of all the rules from the last Congress. It is my intention that the Senate will recess today, rather than adjourn, to continue the same legislative day, and allow this important rules discussion to continue. I am hopeful the Republican leader and I will reach an agreement that allows the Senate to operate more effectively.

“No major legislation can pass the Senate without the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. During the 113th Congress, the Speaker should strive to make that the rule in the House of Representatives, as well.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today marking the beginning of the 113th Congress. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

It is my pleasure to convene the 113th Congress and welcome my colleagues back to the place we love, the United States Senate.

In particular, I would like to welcome Illinois Senator Mark Kirk, who has been away for a year recovering from an illness. We are all grateful for his recovery. He’s an inspiration to us. Senator Kirk, you have been missed.

I also offer a special welcome to the 13 new members of the United States Senate. I am confident they will treasure their memories in this historic legislative body, and that they will serve their states and our nation with distinction.

All of the members of this freshman class are accomplished in their own right. But I trust that serving in the United States Senate will be the most rewarding experience of their lives.

In this Chamber, in the 113th Congress, they will face the most significant challenges of their careers. To turn those challenges into triumphs, I urge all Senators – new and experienced – to draw not only on their varied experience at every level of government and public service, but also on each other’s experience – regardless of political party. As Senator Daniel Webster said, “We are all agents of the same supreme power, the people.”

Today, as we begin a new Congress, we are afforded the opportunity to reflect upon the successes and failures of the past Congress. It has been said that the 112th Congress was characterized by some of the sharpest political divisions in recent memory. But during the last Congress, there were also many commendable examples of compromise.

The recent effort to avert the fiscal cliff was an example of both the divisions and the collaborations that mark this moment in history. Although the process of resolving some of the fiscal issues facing this country was a difficult and protracted one, in the end our two parties came together to protect America’s middle class. That is something of which we can all be proud.

As we advance the debate over the best way to strengthen our economy and reduce our deficit during the 113th Congress, Democrats will continue to stand strong for the principle of balance. Any future budget agreements must balance the need for thoughtful spending reductions with revenue from the wealthiest among us and closing wasteful tax loopholes.

Unfortunately, our political differences prevented us from accomplishing as much as we all hoped during the 112th Congress.

But we also passed very important legislation, such as a transportation jobs bill to keep 2 million people working and begin the restoration of our crumbling infrastructure. We made strides to reduce the nation’s deficit and prevented a tax increase for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses. We reformed our patent system for the first time in six decades, gave small businesses owners access to the capital they need to compete and reauthorized the Federal Aviation Administration – keeping 300,000 workers employed.

And not a single piece of that legislation became law without the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. All those legislative initiatives were bipartisan. Unfortunately, many other worthy measures that passed the Senate with strong, bipartisan support then languished, awaiting action by the House of Representatives.

In the 113th Congress, it will be incumbent upon the House Republican leadership to allow bipartisan bills passed by the Senate to come to a vote before the full House of Representatives –not before the Republican members only, but before Democrats and Republicans, all 435 of them. Too many good pieces of legislation have died over the last two years because House Republican leaders insist on passing legislation with a majority of the Majority, that is, only Republicans. Democrats were ignored.

For example, postal reform, the Violence Against Women Act, the farm bill and relief for the victims of Hurricane Sandy all passed the Senate on a bipartisan basis after extensive deliberation and debate. Yet the House failed to act on all four of these measures.

As Speaker Boehner saw on New Year’s Day, when he allows every member of the House to vote – and not only the Republican members of the House to vote – Congress can enact bills into laws. No major legislation can pass the Senate without the votes of both Democrats and Republicans. During the 113th Congress, the Speaker should strive to make that the rule in the House of Representatives, as well.

Still, it is true that the 112th Congress left much undone. That is why I am resolved to pick up where we left off in a few short weeks. The first crucial matter we’ll address long-overdue aid to victims of Hurricane Sandy.

But striving to be more productive will do little if we do not address the major reason for our inefficiency. The Senate is simply not working as it should. That is why, in the last Congress, I made plain that Democrats would do something to fix these issues.

The beginning of a new Congress is customarily a time that the Senate addresses changes to its rules. In the last Congress, Democratic Senators Jeff Merkley, Tom Udall, Tom Harkin and Sheldon Whitehouse made the majority’s case for change. I commend these passionate leaders. They have made compelling arguments for reform.

In recent months, Senators on both sides of the aisle set about trying to broker a compromise. This group was led by Democratic Senator Levin and Republican Senator McCain. I thank them for their many hours of work and negotiation.

But in the waning weeks of the last Congress, Senators were justifiably occupied with other matters, including a resolution of the fiscal cliff. And I believe this matter warrants additional debate during the 113th Congress. Senators deserve additional notice before voting to change Senate rules.

So today I will follow the precedents set in 2005 and again in 2011. We will reserve the right of all Senators to propose changes to the Senate rules. And we will explicitly not acquiesce in the carrying over of all the rules from the last Congress. It is my intention that the Senate will recess today, rather than adjourn, to continue the same legislative day, and allow this important rules discussion to continue later this month.

I am confident the Republican leader and I can come to an agreement that allows the Senate to work more efficiently.

I have said the work before us in the waning days of this Congress represents a test of our character – a test of our willingness to rise above partisanship for the good of this great nation.

And although I was disappointed the Senate was unable to move quickly to vote on final passage of Senator Tester’s sportsman’s legislation, I hold fast to my optimism that we will pass this test.

We have a great deal to accomplish during the next six weeks in order to safeguard our country’s financial health and protect middle-class families.

But we won’t complete anything without bipartisan cooperation.

As Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell once said, “Bipartisanship means you work together to work it out.”

So I hope to see that type of cooperation on display when the Senate votes today to reconsider stalled cyber security legislation.

If we can work together to address these two measures – the sportsman’s package and the cyber security bill – it will set a tone of cooperation that could characterize the remainder of this Congress, and the next Congress as well.

National security experts say there is no issue facing this nation more pressing than the threat of a cyber attack on our critical infrastructure.

Terrorists bent on harming the United States could all too easily devastate our power grid, our banking system or our nuclear plants.

A bipartisan group of Senators has worked for three years to craft this legislation. Yet Republicans filibustered this worthy measure in July.

It’s imperative that Democrats and Republicans work together to address what national security experts have called “the most serious challenge to our national security since the onset of the nuclear age sixty years ago.”

I found it encouraging when a number of my Republican colleagues – Senators McCain of Arizona, Chambliss of Georgia, Hutchison of Texas, Kyl of Arizona, Coats of Indiana and Blunt of Missouri – recently wrote President Obama advocating legislative action on cyber security.

They wrote: “An issue as far-reaching and complicated as cyber security requires… formal consideration and approval by Congress… Only the legislative process can create the durable and collaborative public-private partnership we need to enhance cyber security.”

This group of Senators says they remain committed to the legislative process. Today, they have an opportunity to demonstrate that commitment.

On several occasions since Republicans filibustered the cyber security bill this summer, I have asked my colleagues to bring to me a list of amendments they would like to debate as we consider this legislation.

Today, they have yet another opportunity to do so.

They can show their commitment to a legislative solution to the cyber security threat by advancing this worthy measure and moving forward with a productive debate on the issue.

This is yet another opportunity for this Congress to prove it can cooperate and compromise when it matters most. But it won’t be our last opportunity.

Before the end of the year, we must craft a balanced agreement to reduce the deficit and protect middle-class families from a tax hike.

As cyber terrorism represents a serious threat to our national security, so the looming fiscal cliff represents a serious threat to our economic security.

I am heartened to see that a number of Republicans – including a number of prominent conservatives – have opened the door to a balanced agreement.

Bill Kristol, a leading conservative commentator, said, “It won’t kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won’t.”

And Glenn Hubbard, an advisor to the Romney campaign, conceded that any agreement must include revenue increases.

It’s simple math. To protect the middle class, it will be necessary to ask millionaires and billionaires to contribute a little more as we work to reduce the deficit.

Democrats understand we won’t get everything we want from a bipartisan accord.

But Republicans should realize they won’t get everything they want, either.

And that shouldn’t prevent us, as my esteemed predecessor said, from working together to work it out.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the need for bipartisanship in the Senate. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Welcome back. For the last year, the country has been focused on the difference between Republicans and Democrats.

And for the last two years, this Congress has not accomplished nearly enough.

But as we close the 112th Congress, it is time to focus on our shared goals and our common purpose.

We all agree, I hope, that today – now – great challenges face our country and this Congress.

Those challenges are large – too large to be solved by Democrats alone.

They are too large to be undertaken by Republicans alone.

And they are too grave for us to allow political differences to stand in the way of success.

On the day Gerald Ford became President of the United States, at a time of great national turmoil, this is what he said:

“There is no way we can go forward except together and no way anybody can win except by serving the people’s urgent needs. We cannot stand still or slip backwards. We must go forward now together.”

That is as true today as it was back then.

Today the American people have many urgent needs.

They need more jobs. They need economic certainty. They need opportunity and fairness.

It is within our power as a Congress to quickly address these urgent needs.

It is within our power to forge an agreement that will give economic certainty now to middle-class families who can least afford a tax hike.

It is within our power to forge an agreement that will ask the richest of the rich – the most fortunate among us – to pay a little extra to reduce the deficit and secure our economic future.

It is within our power to forge an agreement that will protect important tax deductions for families and businesses still struggling.

It is within our power to forge an agreement that will take a balanced approach to reduce spending.

In fact, we could avert the fiscal cliff for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses today. The House must only consider the Senate-passed bill freezing tax rates for those making less than $250,000 a year.

This Congress is but one vote away from avoiding the fiscal cliff for middle class families and small businesses.

As influential conservative Bill Kristol said this week, “Let’s have a serious debate… “It won’t kill the country if we raise taxes a little bit on millionaires. It really won’t.”

Solutions are in our grasp. We only have to make the choice to pull together, instead of pulling apart.

The hands of the Democratic Caucus are reaching toward our Republican colleagues. I urge the Republicans to join us to do the difficult but necessary work ahead.

If there is a message to take away from this year’s election, it is this: Americans are tired of the politics of division.

They are tired of obstruction and distraction.

The American people – Democrats and Republicans – want cooperation and conciliation.

I urge any of my Republican colleagues who are considering the same strategy of obstruction to turn away from the divisions of the past and join in cooperation, compromise and consensus.

Gridlock is not the solution – it is the problem.

How this Congress deals with the challenges ahead will be a test of our character, both as individuals and as a political body – the United States Senate.

As the British playwright, John Osborne, said, “They spend their time mostly looking forward to the past.”

But we cannot look backward.

We must show the American people we are equal to the challenges we now face.

The challenges are here. We know the challenges. We see the challenges. We feel the challenges.

There are many, many reasons why – as we wind down the 112th Congress and embark upon the 113th Congress – we must succeed.

But the best illustration of our duty – our obligation – comes from the words of Medal of Honor recipient Daniel Inouye.

Senator Inouye’s son asked why – after being called “enemy aliens,” after being put in internment camps – why did he and the members of the famed 442nd Regimental Combat Team fight heroically the way they did?

Asked why he fought, Senator Inouye told his son – many years after the battle had ended and Lt. Inouye’s wounds had healed – that he fought “for the children.”

So I say to my colleagues, Democrats and Republicans, we must legislate for the children.

They deserve it. We owe them the future.

It is time for Democrats and Republicans to “go forward now together,” and show the American people that we are equal to the challenges we face.

“Mitt Romney’s fantasy that Senate Democrats will work with him to pass his ‘severely conservative’ agenda is laughable. In fact, Mitt Romney’s Tea Party agenda has already been rejected in the Senate. In the past few months, we have voted down many of the major policies that Mitt Romney has run on, from the Ryan plan to end Medicare as we know it, to the Blunt Amendment to deny women access to contraception, to more tax giveaways for millionaires and billionaires, to a draconian spending plan that would gut critical services for seniors and the most vulnerable Americans.

“Mitt Romney has demonstrated that he lacks the courage to stand up to the Tea Party, kowtowing to their demands time and again. There is nothing in Mitt Romney’s record to suggest he would act any differently as president. As governor of Massachusetts, he had a terrible relationship with Democrats, cordoning himself off behind a velvet rope instead of reaching out to build relationships. And in the near-decade that Mitt Romney has spent running for president, both his words and his actions have shown that pleasing the far right is more important to him than working across the aisle.

“Senate Democrats are committed to defending the middle class, and we will do everything in our power to defend them against Mitt Romney’s Tea Party agenda.”

This week the Senate must complete work on legislation to enact crucial reforms that will prevent drug shortages and bring life-saving medicines to market more quickly.

Senator Harkin and Senator Enzi – a Democrat and a Republican – worked very hard to bring this legislation to the floor.

I am cautiously optimistic that spirit of bipartisan collaboration continues – because Democrats can’t pass this legislation without the cooperation of our Republican colleagues.

I certainly hope they will allow us to advance this bill this evening without the additional delay of another filibuster.

I would like Senators from both parties to be free to offer relevant amendments to improve a worthy bill.

But before we can get to work on this legislation in earnest, my Republican colleagues must stop their filibuster.

Americans living with cancer and other life-threatening illnesses are watching closely to see whether the Senate is capable of quick action to ease shortages of crucial medicines – or whether we will once more be paralyzed by Republican obstruction.

Student Loans

Americans have seen that obstruction time and again this Congress.

They are frustrated with the slow pace of Senate action to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act, on Iran sanctions and on legislation to stop interest rates from doubling on federal student loans.

Earlier this month, Republicans blocked one attempt to keep higher education affordable for 7 million students.

But Democrats haven’t given up. I only hope our Republican colleagues will come to their senses and allow us to prevent this crisis before it’s too late.

Iran Sanctions

Republican obstruction and infighting have also stalled critical new sanctions against Iran.

For two months, Democrats have worked to resolve Republican objections to this bipartisan measure, which passed out of the Banking Committee unanimously.

The stakes couldn’t be higher. Sanctions are a key tool to stop Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, threatening Israel and jeopardizing U.S. national security.

We cannot afford any more delays to putting stronger sanctions in place.

I am hopeful my Republican colleagues will realize how important it is to advance these measures and prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon.

Violence Against Women

Republicans have also needlessly blocked progress on reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act. This helps law enforcement effectively combat and prosecute domestic crimes against women.

Although both Chambers have passed a version of this legislation, House Republicans have refused to go to conference with the Senate.

Their excuse – a hyper-technical budget issue called a blue slip – isn’t much of a fig leaf to hide their blatant obstruction.

The truth is Republicans are looking for any excuse to stall or kill this worthy legislation. And American women aren’t fooled.

If Republicans really want to give police the tools they need to prosecute domestic abusers, they will drop the facade.

If Republicans really care about protecting women and families, they will abandon their hyper-technical objections and join us in conference. The differences between the House and Senate-passed bills could be worked out easily.

American women and families are counting on our action.

Inaction

But this Congress Republicans have been more interested in inaction than in getting things done.

They’re more interested in blocking worthy legislation for partisan gain than in working together.

Their infighting and partisan games have stopped reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act, Iran sanctions and the student loan fix in their tracks.

The FDA bill – which will prevent drug shortages and making life-saving medicines available more quickly – must not become another victim of their partisanship.

I hope Republicans seize this opportunity to be cooperative rather than combative.

On a strong, bipartisan vote yesterday, the House passed a piece of common-sense, job-creation legislation – the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

For years the Export-Import Bank has helped American companies grow and sell their products overseas.

And for years, the Bank has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support – often passing unanimously or by voice vote.

This is a perfect example of the kind of smart investments Congress should be making to spur job growth.

I hope the Senate will be able to quickly approve the House-passed measure today by unanimous consent.

I am optimistic the 330 to 93 vote in the House yesterday will be enough to convince Senate Republicans they shouldn’t hold up this legislation any longer.

The process of reauthorizing the Export-Import bank has already taken too long. I hope I don’t have to file cloture on this matter, but I will if I must.

Let me remind you, the Senate considered reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank in March – nearly two months ago.

Senate Republicans had an opportunity to support this measure then. Instead, all but three Republicans opposed it, and the measure failed.
American exporters have already waited in limbo for two months to see whether Republicans would come around to backing this business-friendly, job-creating policy.

Businesses shouldn’t have to wait any longer.

We can’t afford more of the partisan obstruction we saw in March.

To get to the President’s desk this Congress, every piece of legislation needs Democratic and Republican votes.

That’s just reality. And it means we absolutely must work together if we want to get anything done.

One man who has always been willing to extend a hand to colleagues across the aisle is the Senior Senator from Indiana, Senator Richard Lugar.

His first priority has always been getting things done for the American people – whether that means keeping the world safe from nuclear war or looking out for Hoosiers back home.

Senator Lugar has been a great advocate for the people of Indiana as well as a dedicated student of international affairs.

He’s never missed a meeting with a foreign head of state as long as I have served with him in the Senate.

Senator Lugar has always put the American people first and political party second.

I was elected to the Senate to serve each and every Nevadan – not only the Democrats, although I am proud to be one.

Senator Lugar was elected to serve every Hoosier – regardless of political affiliation – and he has done so well and wisely in the Senate for more than three decades.

Throughout the history of this country – even in the most trying of times, times of great social and political unrest – our elected representatives have worked together despite their differences to do what is right for all Americans.

So I worry when I see dedicated patriots like Senator Lugar drummed out by Tea Party zealots for being too willing to cooperate.

I worry when I hear a candidate for U.S. Senate campaigning against bipartisanship and compromise between our two parties.

And I worry when a candidate for U.S. Senate says so clear that he will put political party and partisanship before country and compromise.

That’s nothing to be proud of. That kind of attitude is why long-time political observers Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein described today’s GOP as “ideologically extreme” and “scornful of compromise.”

And it’s why my friend, Senator Lugar, said this in his concession speech last night:

“Bipartisanship is not the opposite of principle. One can be very conservative or very liberal and still have a bipartisan mindset. Such a mindset acknowledges that the other party is also patriotic and may have some good ideas.”

We should all remember – regardless of our party – that compromise has been the hallmark of this country for more than 200 years.

“This lengthy debate left Americans across the country wondering whether Congress would get the job done, or send our economy off a cliff. But in the end, both sides came together. Neither side got everything it wanted, but our nation got a bipartisan compromise that averts an economic catastrophe, and puts us on a path toward fiscal stability. This agreement cuts the deficit by nearly a trillion dollars now and lays the groundwork for Congress to deliver a balanced deficit reduction package this fall.

“As we craft the next step, Democrats will work to ensure that millionaires, billionaires, and corporate jet owners share in the pain of cutting back. Because that is a pain that millions of middle class families in Nevada and across the country feel every day. We need to do more for them. That is why Washington must now turn its focus back to Main Street, and start creating jobs.

“Today we made sure America will pay its bills. Now it’s time to make sure that all Americans can pay theirs.”