“Today’s employment report again shows that our economy cannot afford more self-inflicted setbacks like the sequester. We need to focus on growth, not austerity. To spur greater job growth, Republicans should work with Democrats to make job-creating investments and replace the sequester with a balanced approach to deficit reduction that combines smart cuts with revenue measures such as closing tax loopholes for the very wealthy.

“We all know this recovery has a long road ahead, and nobody knows it better than the workers who have lost their jobs in Nevada and across the nation. But only Congress can undo the serious effects of Republicans’ harsh austerity. I hope my Republican colleagues will put partisanship aside and work with us for the good of the middle class.”

“They said they wanted to debate and pass a budget. Well, here was their chance.”

“Democrats are willing to… debate the issues. And with the American people on our side, this is a debate we know we can win.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican objections to considering the Senate Budget Resolution. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

For the last few years, Republicans have been hollering that the Senate hasn’t passed a budget. They have done so in spite of the fact that Republicans in both chambers voted for the Budget Control Act, which set spending levels for the last two years.

Every reasonable political observer admits the Budget Control Act, which had the force of law, was a budget by another name. But still Republicans pined for the days of so-called regular order – when the Senate would vote on a budget resolution that would set spending priorities for the fiscal year.

Republicans were desperate, they said, to have a budget debate. Republicans were desperate for an amendment vote-a-rama. And they had charts to prove it. They had press conferences to prove it.  They even had a calendar tallying the days since the Senate has passed a budget resolution.

So I was amazed yesterday when Senate Republicans blocked attempts to begin debate on the Senate budget resolution. Republicans said they wanted to debate and pass a budget. Well, here was their chance. Yet the Junior Senator from Kansas, Senator Moran, objected to a request to begin debating the budget unless we vote on his proposed amendment to the continuing resolution.

Senator Moran is concerned air traffic control towers in Kansas will close because of across-the-board sequester spending cuts. I say to my colleague, the Senator from Kansas, we are all concerned about the impact of these cuts. In Nevada, more than 100 families will lose access to low-income housing because of the sequester. Nationwide, more than 70,000 little boys and girls will be kicked off Head Start. Over time, these arbitrary cuts will be very painful for millions of Americans.

We are all concerned about the sequester. That is why the Senate Democratic budget proposal actually reverses the sequester. The policies outlined in our budget will save hundreds of thousands of jobs and safeguard communities by keeping police, air traffic controllers and meat inspectors on the job.

Reversing the sequester would alleviate Senator Moran’s concern about air traffic controllers in Kansas. But the Senate can’t debate a thoughtful way to replace the sequester if Republicans won’t even let us debate our budget proposal.

We know Republicans and Democrats won’t agree on every aspect of the budget – which sets priorities for how the government spends money and how it saves money.

Republicans have one plan for Medicare – turn it into a voucher program. Democrats have another – to preserve and protect Medicare for our children and grandchildren.

Republicans have one plan for taxes – lower them for the rich and let the middle class foot the bill. Democrats have another – ask the wealthiest individuals and corporations to contribute a little more to reduce the deficit.

Republicans have one plan to reduce the deficit – rely on harsh austerity that shortchanges the elderly, veterans, the middle class and the poor. Democrats have another – a balanced approach that couples smart spending cuts with new revenue from closing loopholes that benefit the wealthiest Americans.

We have our differences. But Democrats are willing to discuss those differences. We’re willing to debate the issues. And with the American people on our side, this is a debate we know we can win.

GOP Plan Would Force Seniors to Pay $2.5 Billion More In Prescription Drugs Next Year Alone By Reopening Drug ‘Donut Hole’

New State-By-State Reports Showing Devastating Local Impact on Seniors Found Here

Washington, D.C. – Today, the Democratic Policy and Communications Center (DPCC) detailed the devastating effects of the new Republican budget in a series of state-by-state reports. The Republican budget introduced by Paul Ryan is anything but balanced. It would end Medicare as we know it, forcing seniors into a costly voucher system, while providing more tax breaks to millionaires. It would gut investments that strengthen the middle class, while protecting tax loopholes that benefit corporations that ship jobs overseas.

“The closer you look at the numbers, the worse the House Republicans’ budget gets for the nation’s seniors. The Republican budget that would end Medicare as we know it is anything but balanced. Rather than taking a balanced approach to deficit reduction, the Republican budget would kick millions of seniors into a voucher program, and force them to pay more for prescription drugs,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer, Chairman of the Democratic Policy and Communications Center. “This reckless budget would gut programs that are essential to the middle class, while preserving tax breaks for the wealthy and huge corporations. The Democratic plan preserves investments in job-creating programs, cuts wasteful spending, and protects Medicare for our seniors.”

Under the proposal, set to receive a vote in the House next week, seniors would see their out-of-pocket costs increase by as much as $5,900 per year.
The Republican budget would also reopen the prescription drug donut hole for millions of current seniors, forcing them to pay an additional $2.5 billion dollars for prescription drugs next year alone. A county-by-county breakdown of seniors’ savings on prescription drugs thanks to the Affordable Care Act through December 2012 can be found here. These savings would be wiped out in the Republican budget plan.

Report Highlights:

• The Republican plan could increase out-of-pocket health care costs per senior by $5,900.
• Nationwide, over 3.5 million seniors saved more than $2.5 billion in prescription drug costs last year. The GOP budget would eliminate those savings in the years to come.
• Over 34 million seniors could pay more for preventive services this year.

“This budget reflects the same skewed priorities… Americans rejected in November.”

“It will take more than accounting gimmicks to achieve real deficit reduction.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Representative Paul Ryan’s budget proposal. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Early this year, with November’s election losses fresh in their minds, top Republicans promised a kinder, gentler Republican Party – a Republican Party that cared about “every American…achieving their dreams.” Republicans bandied about words like fairness and opportunity. They made overtures toward women and Hispanics. They promised cooperation and an end to brinksmanship. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor even spoke of, “an agenda based on a shared vision of creating the conditions for health, happiness and prosperity for more Americans and their families.” The rebranding was under way.

Then a few weeks passed. And the Republican emphasis on fairness and equity passed along with them.

Today House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan will unveil an extreme budget that is anything but balanced. This budget reflects the same skewed priorities the Republican Party has championed for years – the same skewed priorities Americans rejected in November. The Ryan Republican budget will call for more tax breaks for the wealthy, an end to Medicare as we know it and draconian cuts to education and other programs that help America’s economy grow and prosper.

As Yogi Berra famously said, “It’s déjà vu all over again.” We’ve seen this show before. The Ryan Republican budget will shower more tax breaks on millionaires and continue to tilt the playing field to the advantage of big corporate interests, while raising taxes for the middle class. And, like last year, the plan refuses to close a single tax loophole in order to reduce the deficit.

Meanwhile it guts investments in education, health care, public safety, scientific research and job-creating clean energy technology. The Ryan Republican budget would end the Medicare guarantee and force seniors into a voucher program. It would ax preventive health care such as cancer screenings and charge seniors more for prescriptions. And it would further reduce funding for food inspectors, police officers and first responders.

And as if protecting wealthy special interests while shifting the burden to seniors and the middle class wasn’t bad enough, the Republican budget also devastates the economy, costing jobs and slowing growth. Not only is this the wrong approach, it’s the same old approach.

And to make matters worse, the Paul Ryan Budget 3.0 uses the same fuzzy math as his previous two budgets. It relies on accounting that is creative at best and fraudulent at worst to inflate its claims of deficit reduction.

Democrats believe it is critical that we stabilize the deficit. But it will take more than accounting gimmicks to achieve real deficit reduction. And at a time when corporations are making record profits, the stock market is soaring and wealthy Americans’ income continues to rise, that deficit reduction shouldn’t be come at the expense of middle-class families, senior citizens and the poor.

Americans have demanded a fair approach to deficit reduction that makes sensible cuts, but asks profitable corporations and the wealthiest among us to share the burden. Democrats have been listening. That’s why this week Budget Committee Chairman Patty Murray will introduce a budget that reflects those balanced principles. The Democratic plan will cut wasteful spending and reduce the deficit, close tax loopholes that benefit the rich and invest in what the economy needs to grow. It will encourage a strong middle class.

Congressman Ryan and his Republican colleagues in Congress have taken a different approach – an approach that makes it plain they missed the message of the November elections. Their budget will once again put moneyed special interests ahead of middle-class families. And no amount of rebranding will hide that.

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding on Nevada judicial nominee Andrew Gordon, on a continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year and on the 2014 retirement of Senator Carl Levin. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

This evening, the Senate will vote on two judicial nominations: Richard Gary Taranto, of Maryland, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Federal Circuit and Andrew Patrick Gordon, of Nevada, to be United States District Judge for the District of Nevada.

Andrew Gordon, of Las Vegas, graduated from Harvard Law School in 1987 after receiving his Bachelor’s degree from Claremont McKenna College. He is a partner with the law firm of McDonald Carano Wilson, where he has been a partner since 1997. Mr. Gordon handles complex commercial disputes. He also focuses on alternative conflict resolution, and regularly serves as an arbitrator and mediator.

Mr. Gordon also performs a variety of pro bono work, including handling adoption proceedings and representation of an inmate on death row in a habeas corpus proceeding. He has consistently been named as one of the Best Lawyers in America. I have no doubt he will serve the court well, and I look forward to his confirmation.

This week the Senate will also take up legislation to fund the government through the end of the fiscal year. I applaud Appropriations Committee Chairman Mikulski and Ranking Member Shelby for working diligently through the weekend to reach a bipartisan agreement on a path forward.

Senator Mikulski and Senator Shelby, two seasoned veterans, have worked hard to get this legislation ready. They are two of our most senior members. They are also two of our most respected members.

The measure passed last week by the House of Representatives is not perfect. Senators will wish to offer amendments. And we are working out a process to consider those amendments.

This week will offer another opportunity for the United States Senate to return to the regular order – an opportunity for this body to legislate through cooperation and compromise. It will also be a test of the Senate’s good will.

America’s economy is poised to grow and expand. And the last thing it needs is another manufactured crisis – such as a government shutdown – to derail its progress.

Senator Carl Levin Announces Retirement

For some public servants, the political fire is lit by their first trip to Washington, D.C. or by a moving and memorable party convention speech. For others, a history of military service leads to a career in public service. For still others, a single issue – such as a proposed freeway through a vibrant community – propels them into politics. But for Senator Carl Levin, serving Michigan families is something of a family business.

Senator Levin’s father, Saul, served on the Michigan Corrections Commission. His uncle, Theodore Levin, was the chief judge for the U.S. District Court for Eastern Michigan. And I was elected to Congress in 1982, the same year as Carl’s brother, Sander Levin, the ranking member of the House Ways and Means Committee.

The first time I met Senator Levin, I mentioned that I had come to the House of Representatives with his brother. And Carl said, yes, Sandy is my brother, but he’s also my best friend. That’s something I’ve never forgotten. These two brothers, natives of Detroit, have done so much for the state of Michigan.

Carl Levin is a truly outstanding Senator and an even better man. The senior Senator from Michigan is the longest serving Senator in his state’s history. But he dedicated his life to serving residents of Michigan long before he was elected to the United States Senate.

Senator Levin served as general counsel of the Michigan Civil Rights Commission and as assistant attorney general for the state of Michigan. And he served two terms in the Detroit City Council, including one term as council president.

As a Senator, Carl Levin has consistently stood up for Michigan families – whether that meant supporting the auto industry, protecting Lake Michigan, holding credit card companies accountable or securing funding for sons and daughters serving in the United States military.

As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Carl Levin is one of the nation’s most respected voices on national security issues and most powerful advocates for the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.

And as chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, he has sought the truth on behalf of American families time and time again. He led investigations of the 2008 financial crisis, abusive credit card practices and the Enron collapse.

Carl’s dedication to the United States Senate is matched only by his dedication to his own family. He has been married to his wife, Barbara, for more than 50 years. They have three daughters and six grandchildren. And I’m sure Carl is looking forward to spending more time with those grandchildren.

But when he retires in two years, the Unites States Senate will be sorry to lose this powerful voice for military service members and Michigan families.

“Today’s numbers show that our economy is growing, and is poised to grow even faster in the months to come. There is still much work to be done to bring unemployment down in Nevada and across the nation. The first step is to replace the sequester with a balanced combination of smart spending cuts and policies that close wasteful tax loopholes and ask millionaires to pay their fair share. But this can only be done with cooperation from my Republican colleagues.

“The American people expect solutions from their elected officials. It is up to Congress to provide them with the solutions they deserve.”

“Republicans should give Congress true flexibility – flexibility to cut wasteful subsidies, flexibility to close unnecessary tax loopholes and flexibility to ask the richest of the rich to contribute a little more.”

“As usual, Republicans have put the demands of special interests over the needs of middle-class Americans.

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding across-the-board sequester cuts that will take effect tomorrow. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Today the Senate says goodbye to a valued and accomplished staff member, Rick DeBobes, who is retiring after ten years as staff director of Chairman Levin’s Senate Armed Services Committee. Rick DeBobes came to the Senate more than two decades ago, after a distinguished, 26-year career as a Judge Advocate in the United States Navy. He has spent his entire Capitol Hill career with the same committee – a rare occurrence in the Senate – working first for Chairman Sam Nunn and then for Chairman Levin.

For the last decade, Rick has led the committee’s oversight of two of our longest-running wars, in Iraq and Afghanistan, working to reward the dedication of military personnel and their families. Under Chairman Levin’s guiding hand, he has also filled the ranks of the Armed Services Committee staff with the next generation of national security professionals.

Rick’s expertise, integrity and commitment to public service will be missed by Republicans and Democrats. And on behalf of the Senate community, I thank him for his service and wish him well in retirement.

Rick’s departure from the Senate Armed Services Committee comes during a trying time for our nation’s military – as deep, across-the-board spending cuts are set to strike. Hundreds of thousands of civilian employees of the Defense Department will be furloughed in coming weeks and months. Families and businesses across this country are also bracing for the pain of deep cuts to programs that keep our food safe, our water clean and our borders secure.

But it’s not too late to avert these damaging cuts – cuts for which the overwhelming majority of Republicans in both houses of Congress voted. Democrats have a balanced proposal to remove the threat of the sequester. Our proposal would reduce the deficit by making smart spending cuts. It would also close wasteful tax loopholes that allow companies that outsource jobs to China or India to claim tax deductions for doing so. Our plan would stop wasteful subsidies to farmer, some of whom don’t even farm anymore. And it would ask the wealthiest among us – those making millions each year – to pay just a little more to help reduce the deficit.

Almost 60 percent of Republicans around the country favor this balanced approach to reduce the deficit with a combination of revenue and smart spending cuts. But because this proposition would ask millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations to contribute even a tiny fraction more, Republicans here in Congress won’t support it. Republicans in Congress are going after our proposal because it goes after special interests.

Now, after days of infighting, Senate Republicans have announced their own so-called “plan.” Instead of replacing the pain of the sequester with something smarter and more reasonable, their plan would embrace these devastating cuts, while abandoning any of the responsibility that goes along with them.

Republicans call the plan “flexibility.” But let’s call it what it really is: a punt. As President Obama said Tuesday, it would simply raise the question: “Do I end funding that helps disabled children or poor children? Do I close this Naval Shipyard or that one?”

It is not a solution. And even members of the Senate Republican caucus have questioned the wisdom of this proposal.

Republicans should give Congress true flexibility – flexibility to cut wasteful subsidies, flexibility to close unnecessary tax loopholes and flexibility to ask the richest of the rich to contribute a little more. Instead, they’re completely inflexible – insisting we risk hundreds of thousands of American jobs, as well as programs that strengthen families and small businesses across this nation.

But that should come as no surprise. As usual, Republicans have put the demands of special interests over the needs of middle-class Americans.

“President Obama is right: to give our economy a foundation for growth Congress must replace the sequester with a balanced approach to deficit reduction. Senate Democrats will soon vote on a plan to temporarily replace the harsh austerity of the sequester with a combination of smart spending cuts and measures that close wasteful corporate tax loopholes and subsidies, and ask the wealthiest Americans to pay their fair share.”

“But for Congress to act, Republicans must get off the sidelines. So far, Republicans have shown that they would rather let the sequester go into effect, or make even deeper cuts to Medicare, education and medical research, than close a single wasteful tax loophole. Republicans’ position is untenable, but only time will tell how many people must lose their jobs before Republicans listen to the overwhelming majority of Americans, and work with Democrats to forge a balanced approach.”

“But our efforts to restore prosperity will mean little unless Congress acts immediately to deal with arbitrary, across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect next month.”

“Later this week, Democrats will introduce a plan to avert the so-called sequester.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the State of the Union Address. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Last night President Obama outlined an agenda to strengthen the middle class and expand on our economic progress. And he outlined an agenda that will restore the core value that makes this nation great: fairness. Senate Democrats stand ready to work with the President to make this vision – a vision in which every American shares the prosperity as well as the responsibility – a reality.

The President’s agenda calls for common-sense investments in our future – investments that will breathe new life into a struggling middle class, investments that will make America a magnet for jobs and manufacturing once more, investments that have been deferred for far too long because of the worst recession since the Great Depression.

The President’s plan will give American manufacturers the support they need to thrive, while ending giveaways to companies that ship jobs overseas. His plan will create jobs today building world-class roadways, railways and bridges that our economy can rely on tomorrow. It will prepare current and future workers to compete in a global economy by making K-through-12 schools the best in the world once again and college affordable for every graduate. His plan will break our addiction to foreign oil and encourage investments in renewable energy – a change that will be good for the environment and for the economy. And, as the President said last night, it will do all this without adding a dime to the deficit.

These investments in a strong middle class are not just right for our country; they’re right for our economy as well.

But our efforts to restore prosperity will mean little unless Congress acts immediately to deal with arbitrary, across-the-board spending cuts set to take effect next month. If the looming sequester strikes, 70,000 children would be kicked off Head Start. Ten thousand teacher jobs will be at risk. And the Small Business Administration will be forced to reduce loan guarantees to small businesses by up to $540 million.

Democrats believe we should replace this harsh austerity with a balanced approach that targets wasteful spending and tax loopholes, and asks the wealthiest among us to contribute a little more to reduce the deficit. The American people know we can’t cut our way to prosperity. They agree we cannot ask the middle class to bear the entire burden of deficit reduction.

Later this week, Democrats will introduce a plan to avert the so-called sequester.

Republicans say they agree the deep cuts they voted for would be damaging to our economy and to national security. But they would rather cut Medicare, education and medical research than close a single wasteful tax loophole or ask a single millionaire to contribute more. They should stop protecting millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations, and start working with us to pass an alternative to these terrible cuts that protects the middle class.

We must not jeopardize the progress of the last four years. Even though our work to restore economic prosperity is not done, we should take pride in 35 months of private sector growth and 6.1 million new, American jobs. Imagine how many more jobs we could have created with just a little cooperation from our Republican colleagues.

But now our friends across the aisle have another opportunity to engage constructively. They have a second chance to work with Democrats to rebuild the middle class by investing in the things that made America strong in the first place – world-class roads and bridges, peerless schools, industrious factories and creative entrepreneurs.

President Ronald Reagan, in his first address to a Joint Session of Congress, spoke of these building blocks of prosperity. This is what he said: “The substance and prosperity of our nation is built by wages brought home from the factories and the mills, the farms, and the shops. They are the services provided in 10,000 corners of America; the interest on the thrift of our people and the returns for their risk-taking. The production of America is the possession of those who build, serve, create, and produce.”

He did not say the substance of our nation is built on profits gleaned from shipping jobs overseas. He did not say the prosperity of America is the possession of investment banks or wealthy oil companies alone.

Rather, our substance and prosperity are earned in factories and mills, farms and shops. And the rewards belong to all those who build, serve, create and produce – not only to the few strong enough or rich enough to take for themselves.

It’s time to return to those roots. It is time to remember that fairness is not just a principle for which to strive, but a powerful engine of growth and prosperity for all Americans.

“We must build on this progress, fostering a lasting recovery that ensures Americans’ successes are determined by the strength of their will and not the size of their wallet.”

“Senate Democrats will offer our own solution to the sequester later this week.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding tonight’s State of the Union Address. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Four years ago, as newly-elected President Barack Obama prepared to deliver his first address to a Joint Session of Congress, this country was in the midst of a grave crisis. Our economy had been shaken to its core by a financial crisis sparked by Wall Street greed. Millions of Americans had lost their jobs, their homes and their hope.

But President Obama predicted that America would rise to meet the challenges of the day. This is what he said: “We will rebuild, we will recover, and the United States of America will emerge stronger than before. The weight of this crisis will not determine the destiny of this nation.”

Four years later, we can say with certainty that he was right. Over the last 35 months, American businesses have created more than 6.1 million jobs – including more than a million in the manufacturing and auto industries. Although the economy is not back to full strength and there are still too many Americans out of work, we have made solid progress in the last four years. The depth of the crisis did not determine our destiny. Instead our determination drove us to prosper again.

Now we are faced with an opportunity disguised as a challenge: we must build on this progress, fostering a lasting recovery that ensures Americans’ successes are determined by the strength of their will and not the size of their wallet.

Tonight President Obama will chart a course to maintain the economic progress we’ve made and revive a still-struggling middle class. I look forward to hearing his vision.

I expect the President will call for common-sense investments in our future – investments that have been deferred for too long because of economic turmoil. When times are hard, these investments are easy to put off.

But if America hopes to compete in a changing world, we must prepare today’s students for tomorrow’s jobs. We must give small businesses and American manufacturers the support they need to thrive. We must stop relying on foreign oil and start investing in renewable energy that is better for our environment and for our economy. And if we hope to rebuild and maintain a world-class economy, we must build the 21st century infrastructure to support that economy. Renewing these investments is not only the right thing to do for our country; it’s the right thing to do for our economy.

For the last four years, the President has repeatedly reached across the aisle to Republicans, suggesting we find common ground for the sake of the recovery. Tonight will be no different. I expect the President’s proposals will include ideas supported by both Democrats and Republicans. And I hope my Republican colleagues will give his vision the consideration it deserves.

Tonight President Obama will also propose a balanced alternative to the devastating, automatic spending cuts set to take effect next month. Democrats believe we should prevent these harmful, arbitrary cuts – cuts to both the military and to the initiatives that help middle-class families prosper, for which Republicans in both Chambers voted. We could easily avert these job-destroying cuts, which would hinder the economic recovery, by ending wasteful tax breaks for companies that ship jobs overseas.

A balanced approach that pairs sensible spending reductions with modest contributions from the wealthiest among us would prevent the damage of the so-called sequester. I was disappointed to learn yesterday that Republican leaders have no intention of bringing legislation to the floor of the House of Representatives to replace the sequester with a more sensible approach.

Senate Democrats will offer our own solution to the sequester later this week. If Republicans truly agree that these across-the-board cuts would be damaging to our economy and to national security, they should work with us to pass an alternative.

During the first State of the Union address in 1790, the first President of the United States, George Washington, told Congress this: “The welfare of our country is the great object to which our cares and efforts ought to be directed.” As Republicans and Democrats from both Chambers come together tonight to hear the state of this great union, we should all keep those words in mind. Despite our many differences, if we find the will to work together we will have the power to build an economy that works for every American.

“Our nation’s economy continues to recover, but there is still work to be done. To give our economy the running room it needs to get up to speed, we should replace cuts that hurt the middle class with a balanced approach that combines smart cuts with revenue measures that close tax loopholes and ask the wealthy to contribute their fair share. For too many Nevadans and Americans throughout our nation, the recovery isn’t a reality until they can rely on a steady paycheck. We will not rest until we make that future a reality.”

“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.

“I am pleased that Speaker Boehner and his House colleagues have decided to change course, and pass a bill that defuses yet another fight over the debt ceiling.

“This bill surrenders the hostage Republicans have taken in the past by decoupling the full faith and credit of the United States from cuts to Social Security and Medicare, or anything else.  In substance, this is a clean debt limit increase that will set the precedent for future debt ceiling extensions.  By passing this bill, Republicans are joining Democrats to say we will not hold the full faith and credit of the United States hostage, and we will pay our bills.

“Over the last two years, the bipartisan Budget Control Act set spending levels in place of a Congressional Budget.  As Senator Murray announced today, this year the Senate will return to regular order, and move a budget resolution through the Budget Committee and to the Senate floor. House Republicans had to add a gimmick or two to get their bill past the Tea Party. But to spare the middle class another knock-down, drag-out fight, the Senate will proceed to and seek to pass the House bill. We will seek an agreement with Republicans to bring the bill to the floor in the coming days.

“I want to give credit where credit is due, and thank Speaker Boehner for his leadership here in defusing another fight over the debt ceiling. The middle class has been telling us they do not want another crisis, and this bill gives them the security they deserve.”

“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.

“It is reassuring to see Republicans beginning to back off their threat to hold our economy hostage. If the House can pass a clean debt ceiling increase to avoid default and allow the United States to meet its existing obligations, we will be happy to consider it. As President Obama has said, this issue is too important to middle class families’ economic security to use as a ploy for collecting a ransom. We have an obligation to pay the bills we have already incurred – bills for which many House Republicans voted.”

“In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis — without Congressional approval, if necessary,” the leaders write.

Senate leaders made clear their willingness to pursue balanced approach to cutting spending and reducing our deficit, but reiterated their insistence that any approach be a balanced between smart cuts and revenues from the wealthiest Americans.

###

The full text of the letter is below.

January 11, 2013

The President
The White House
Washington, DC 20500

Dear Mr. President:

As you know, Republican leaders are threatening to bring on an economic catastrophe unless Democrats make deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

This threat is outrageous and absurd. Defaulting on America’s legal obligations would undermine the American economy and spread global economic havoc. Just two years ago, Speaker Boehner himself admitted that failure to raise the debt limit “would be a financial disaster, not only for us, but for the worldwide economy.”

It is hard to imagine that the Speaker and Leader McConnell would really follow through on their threat to let our nation default on its debts. They are responsible leaders who know better. Sadly, some of their Republican colleagues do not. Therefore, we believe that you must make clear that you will never allow our nation’s economy and reputation to be held hostage. In the event that Republicans make good on their threat by failing to act, or by moving unilaterally to pass a debt limit extension only as part of unbalanced or unreasonable legislation, we believe you must be willing to take any lawful steps to ensure that America does not break its promises and trigger a global economic crisis — without Congressional approval, if necessary.

As you know, increasing the debt limit does not authorize new spending. It merely ensures that we meet our existing obligations. Those obligations were incurred by both Republicans and Democrats, and are the responsibility of all Americans.

Accordingly, we hope that you will continue to ignore claims that agreeing to an increase in the debt limit would somehow represent a concession by Republicans to Democrats. All Americans, Democrats and Republicans alike, have a stake in ensuring that our country meets its legal obligations. Financial markets have long viewed securities backed by the full faith and credit of the United States as the most trustworthy in the world. This lowers borrowing costs for homes, cars, and college for all Americans and strengthens our economy. If we violate that trust for the first time in history, we will never fully regain it, and every American will suffer.

For all these reasons, we support your view that an extension of the debt limit is not something for which Democrats should have to negotiate. At the same time, as a separate matter, we agree about the importance of developing a broad, bipartisan agreement on fiscal policy that strengthens our economy and reduces our long-term budget deficit.

As you have said, any such agreement must treat all Americans fairly and include not just responsible spending cuts but additional revenue from the wealthy and the elimination of wasteful tax breaks. It would be wrong to slash earned benefits for seniors and middle class families, while allowing corporations, millionaires, and billionaires to continue to exploit wasteful tax loopholes. We therefore hope that you will continue to insist that the entire budget be on the table, and that any agreement be fully balanced and fair.

Thank you for your consideration of our views.

Respectfully,

Senator Harry Reid
Senator Dick Durbin
Senator Chuck Schumer
Senator Parry Murray

A PDF of the letter can be found online here.

“Our economy continues to grow and create jobs, but for those still unemployed in Nevada and throughout the nation, the recovery will not be a reality until they start earning a paycheck once again.

“To keep our recovery going, we need to avoid another knock-down, drag-out fight over whether to default, or to pay our nation’s existing bills. Republicans are threatening to once again hold the full faith and credit of the United States hostage in order to force cuts to Social Security and Medicare. If our recovery is to take off, we must forego this kind of reckless, partisan brinksmanship, and work together to find solutions that work for the middle class.”

“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.

“House Republicans pushed middle class families closer to the cliff by wasting an entire week with their incompetent ‘Plan B’ stunt. It is time for House Republicans to put middle class families first by passing the Senate’s bill to protect 98 percent of Americans from a tax hike on January 1. The Senate bill could pass tomorrow if House Republicans would simply let it come to the floor.

“The Senate has already rejected House Republicans’ Tea Party bills, and no further legislation can move through the Senate until Republicans drop their knee-jerk obstruction. Right now, the Senate bill is the only bill that can become law, and House Republicans owe it to middle class families to let it pass with Democratic and Republican votes.”

“It’s time for the Speaker and all Republicans to return to the negotiating table. It’s time for Republicans to work with us to find the middle ground.”

“In the meantime, the Speaker should bring the middle-class tax cut passed by the Senate five months ago to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.”

Washington, D.C. –Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the status of budget negotiations. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Last night the House of Representatives proved what Democrats have known all along: Speaker Boehner’s plan to raise taxes on 25 million middle-class taxpayers while handing out $50,000 bonuses to millionaires and billionaires was dead on arrival.

We knew the so-called Plan B was no plan at all.

It couldn’t pass the Senate.

Turns out, it couldn’t pass the House, either.

It’s too bad Speaker Boehner wasted a week on this futile political stunt.

But at least now House Republicans have gotten the message loud and clear that any comprehensive solution to the looming fiscal cliff will need to be a bipartisan solution.

No comprehensive agreement can pass either chamber without both Democratic votes and Republican votes.

Which means any solution will have to ask the most fortunate among us to pay a little more to reduce the deficit and ensure partisanship doesn’t take the nation to the brink of default a few months from now.

Nothing that has passed the House of Representatives fits this test.

A few days ago President Obama and Speaker Boehner appeared poised to strike a grand bargain.

But instead of making hard choices or compromising, as President Obama has been willing to do, Speaker Boehner retreated to his corner and resorted to political stunts.

But the stunt fell flat.

It’s time for the Speaker and all Republicans to return to the negotiating table.

It’s time for Republicans to work with us to find the middle ground.

That is the only hope of averting the devastating impacts of the fiscal cliff entirely.

And in the meantime, the Speaker should bring the middle-class tax cut passed by the Senate five months ago to the floor of the House of Representatives for a vote.

The clock is ticking until the nation goes over the fiscal cliff and taxes go up for every family in America.

But there’s still time for Speaker Boehner to hit the brakes and avoid the cliff.

The Senate-passed bill would protect 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses from crippling tax hikes while President Obama and the Speaker work toward a comprehensive agreement.

If Republicans truly want to ensure American families’ taxes don’t go up on January 1, they should simply pass the Senate bill.

The only reason Speaker Boehner hasn’t brought our bill to the floor sooner is that he knows it will pass.

Americans are not fooled by the Speaker’s phony, procedural excuses for failing to bring this solution to a vote. They’re tired of excuses. They expect action.

Let me be plain: there is nothing preventing the Speaker from taking up our bill and giving middle-class families certainty.

So I say to my friend, the Speaker, this isn’t a game.

It isn’t about scoring political points or putting wins on the board.

There will be very serious consequences for millions of families if Congress fails to compromise.

And there will be very serious consequences for our economy if Congress fails to act.

It’s time for Speaker Boehner to return to the negotiating table ready to compromise.

And it’s time for House Republicans to remember what’s at stake.

Incoming Senate Republican Whip John Cornyn: “I believe we’re going to pass the $250,000 and below sooner or later, and we really don’t have much leverage there because those rates go up by operation of law Dec. 31.  I would focus on the areas where we do have more leverage.”  [Politico, 12/12/12]

Sen. Dean Heller (R-NV): “But as government leaders are negotiating in advance of a year-end deadline to avert at least $500 billion in automatic tax increases and across-the-board spending cuts – the so-called ‘fiscal cliff’ - Heller said he would ‘take a serious look at any proposal,’ including ones that might allow rates to increase on upper-income families while keeping them lower for others.” [Las Vegas Review Journal, 12/12/12]

Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): “Give in by voting present, let the Democrats pass an increase in the upper tax brackets, comes over to the Senate, Republicans vote no, and it becomes a Democrat tax increase but not a Republican/Democrat tax increase, which I think is a mistake for the Republicans.” [Fox News, 12/11/12]

Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK): “Murkowski, in an interview this morning from Washington, said she had been among Republicans who have been saying that raising the tax rate on some of the nation’s wealthiest individuals should be a part of the solution to the national debt problem if it is coupled with a reduction in spending on entitlement programs such as Medicare and Social Security. An increasing number of Republicans have, following Obama’s re-election and Republican losses in Congress, been expressing such a view. ‘I have been suggesting for a period of time now that I think it is worth a discussion, consideration, to look at the highest earners,’ Murkowski said. ‘For us as party to draw a line in the sand, to say ‘Don’t ever touch tax rates,’ I think that became a problem for us.’” [Fairbanks Daily News-Miner,12/12/12]

GROWING NUMBER OF GOP LAWMAKERS AGREE

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): “So, and a lot of people are putting forth a theory and I actually think it has merit where you go ahead and give the president the 2 percent increase that he is talking about, the rate increase on the top 2 percent.”  [Fox News Sunday, 12/9/12]

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE): “Sen. Mike Johanns edged Friday toward willingness to consider an increase in the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans as part of a fiscal cliff agreement if it also includes ‘a good-faith down payment’ on reducing entitlement spending. ‘You know, I think there is an opportunity there,’ Johanns told Bloomberg TV anchor Al Hunt when he asked whether Republicans could go along with a Democratic plan that would restore the top tax rate to 39.6 percent with a promise that it could be revisited next year.” [Lincoln Journal Star, 12/7/12]

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK): “Personally, I know we have to raise revenue; I don’t really care which way we do it.  Actually, I would rather see the rates go up than do it the other way, because it gives us greater chance to reform the tax code and broaden the base in the future.” [The Hill, 12/5/12]

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “Representative (Tom) Cole’s (R-Okla.) proposal to proceed with an extension of tax relief for working families making $250,000 or less has merit because everyone agrees lower and middle-income families should not be subjected to higher taxes. I believe that very wealthy individuals — millionaires and billionaires — should pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes to help us reduce the soaring deficit.” [Portland Press Herald, 12/6/12]

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): “Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, who is retiring, joined a handful of other Republicans on Tuesday suggesting that Congress should pass the middle-class tax cut extensions now, then leave the fight over taxes and spending until later. Americans, she said, ‘should not even be questioning that we will ultimately raise taxes on low- to middle-income people.’ Congress could take that off the table‘while you’re grappling with tax cuts for the wealthy,’ she said.” [NY Times, 12/5/12]

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX): “Separately, Representative Kay Granger of Texas is endorsing Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole’s call to extend all tax cuts for middle-class earners as ‘just the right thing to do.’” [Bloomberg, 12/5/12]

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): “I would probably vote for it at that point.” [Huffington Post, 12/4/12]

Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH): “Rate increase, if the package includes significant entitlement reform that gets you to $4 to $6 trillion (in deficit savings) over 10 years, I would vote for that.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH): “If it gets us past the fiscal cliff and the president is willing to consider meaningful savings in entitlements, it’s a legitimate solution.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now.” [Politico, 11/27/12]

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA): “I have to say that if you’re going to sign me up with a camp, I like what Tom Cole has to say.” [CNN, 11/29/12]

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID): “I wouldn’t have a problem with letting those tax rates go up.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL): “Tom Cole is talking about passing the ones that are out there so there could be more certainty, and I think that would be a positive step.” [NY Times, 11/29/12]

CONSERVATIVE OPINION MAKERS ALSO SEE WRITING ON WALL

Bill Kristol: “My view is, get the tax issue off the table. It’s the weakest one for Republicans right now.”  [Fox News Sunday, 12/9/12]

Anne Coulter:  Coulter: “OK fine, let’s do that, but in the end, at some point, if the Bush tax cuts are repealed and everyone’s taxes go up, I promise you Republicans will get blamed for it.  It doesn’t mean you cave on everything, but there are some things Republicans do that feed into what the media is telling America about Republicans.”  Hannity: “So are you saying that, for PR purposes, that they should give in to Obama on the tax rate?”  Coulter: “Not exactly, I–Well, yeah, I guess I am.”  [Huffington Post, 12/6/12]

NY Post Columnist John Podhoretz: “Republicans have a bad hand to play when it comes to the “fiscal cliff” coming up Jan. 1, when taxes will rise automatically on everyone and whopping defense cuts will be imposed automatically.  The truth is, every way you look at it, the GOP is trapped. Republican politicians will cave and give the president most of what he wants…The only real question is when. The answer is: Probably at the worst possible time, when they’ve done even more damage to the party’s‘brand.’”  [NY Post, 12/5/12]

Daily Caller Columnist Matt K. Lewis:  “Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how Republicans have anything but bad options regarding the fiscal cliff. At least, not in the short term… This hasn’t stopped some conservative pundits from acting as if Republicans hold all the cards. But the notion that Republicans have leverage is silly. It’s the same kind of happy thinking that led some to boldly predict a Romney victory.”  [Daily Caller, 11/30/12]

Washington Examiner Editorial Writer Conn Carroll: “But as a backup plan, passing a tax cut for 98 percent of Americans, while avoiding any of the additional new stimulus spending that Obama is asking for, may be the best Republicans can hope for right now.” [Conn Carroll Column, Washington Examiner, 12/5/12]

NY Times Columnist David Brooks: “So Republicans have to realize that they are going to cave on tax rates.” [New York Times, 12/4/12]

National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru: “The low-risk [option] is to pass an extension of the middle-class tax cuts, which presumably the Democrats would have to pass, and watch taxes for high earners rise. That way at least Republicans wouldn’t get blamed for middle-class tax increases. That second option isn’t great. But it’s better than some of the possible deals I’ve been reading and hearing about.” [National Review, 11/30/12]

Wall Street Journal Editorial: “This is where Mr. Norquist can give some ground. If taxes are going up anyway because the Bush rates expire, and Republicans can stop them from going up as much as they otherwise would, then pledge-takers deserve some credit for that.” [Wall Street Journal, 11/27/12]

 Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): “So, and a lot of people are putting forth a theory and I actually think it has merit where you go ahead and give the president the 2 percent increase that he is talking about, the rate increase on the top 2 percent.” [Fox News Sunday, 12/9/12]

Sen. Mike Johanns (R-NE): “Sen. Mike Johanns edged Friday toward willingness to consider an increase in the tax rate for the wealthiest Americans as part of a fiscal cliff agreement if it also includes ‘a good-faith down payment’ on reducing entitlement spending. ‘You know, I think there is an opportunity there,’ Johanns told Bloomberg TV anchor Al Hunt when he asked whether Republicans could go along with a Democratic plan that would restore the top tax rate to 39.6 percent with a promise that it could be revisited next year.” [Lincoln Journal Star, 12/7/12]

GROWING NUMBER OF GOP LAWMAKERS AGREE

Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK): “Personally, I know we have to raise revenue; I don’t really care which way we do it.  Actually, I would rather see the rates go up than do it the other way, because it gives us greater chance to reform the tax code and broaden the base in the future.” [The Hill, 12/5/12]

Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME): “Representative (Tom) Cole’s (R-Okla.) proposal to proceed with an extension of tax relief for working families making $250,000 or less has merit because everyone agrees lower and middle-income families should not be subjected to higher taxes. I believe that very wealthy individuals — millionaires and billionaires — should pay a greater percentage of their income in taxes to help us reduce the soaring deficit.” [Portland Press Herald, 12/6/12]

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): “Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, who is retiring, joined a handful of other Republicans on Tuesday suggesting that Congress should pass the middle-class tax cut extensions now, then leave the fight over taxes and spending until later. Americans, she said, ‘should not even be questioning that we will ultimately raise taxes on low- to middle-income people.’ Congress could take that off the table ‘while you’re grappling with tax cuts for the wealthy,’ she said.” [NY Times, 12/5/12]

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX): “Separately, Representative Kay Granger of Texas is endorsing Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole’s call to extend all tax cuts for middle-class earners as ‘just the right thing to do.’” [Bloomberg, 12/5/12]

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): “I would probably vote for it at that point.” [Huffington Post, 12/4/12]

Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH): “Rate increase, if the package includes significant entitlement reform that gets you to $4 to $6 trillion (in deficit savings) over 10 years, I would vote for that.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH): “If it gets us past the fiscal cliff and the president is willing to consider meaningful savings in entitlements, it’s a legitimate solution.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now.” [Politico, 11/27/12]

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA): “I have to say that if you’re going to sign me up with a camp, I like what Tom Cole has to say.” [CNN, 11/29/12]

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID): “I wouldn’t have a problem with letting those tax rates go up.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL): “Tom Cole is talking about passing the ones that are out there so there could be more certainty, and I think that would be a positive step.” [NY Times, 11/29/12]

CONSERVATIVE OPINION MAKERS ALSO SEE WRITING ON WALL

Bill Kristol: “My view is, get the tax issue off the table. It’s the weakest one for Republicans right now.”  [Fox News Sunday, 12/9/12]

Anne Coulter:  Coulter: “OK fine, let’s do that, but in the end, at some point, if the Bush tax cuts are repealed and everyone’s taxes go up, I promise you Republicans will get blamed for it.  It doesn’t mean you cave on everything, but there are some things Republicans do that feed into what the media is telling America about Republicans.” Hannity: “So are you saying that, for PR purposes, that they should give in to Obama on the tax rate?”  Coulter: “Not exactly, I–Well, yeah, I guess I am.”  [Huffington Post,12/6/12]

NY Post Columnist John Podhoretz: “Republicans have a bad hand to play when it comes to the “fiscal cliff” coming up Jan. 1, when taxes will rise automatically on everyone and whopping defense cuts will be imposed automatically.  The truth is, every way you look at it, the GOP is trapped. Republican politicians will cave and give the president most of what he wants…The only real question is when. The answer is: Probably at the worst possible time, when they’ve done even more damage to the party’s ‘brand.’”  [NY Post, 12/5/12]

Daily Caller Columnist Matt K. Lewis:  “Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how Republicans have anything but bad options regarding the fiscal cliff. At least, not in the short term… This hasn’t stopped some conservative pundits from acting as if Republicans hold all the cards. But the notion that Republicans have leverage is silly. It’s the same kind of happy thinking that led some to boldly predict a Romney victory.”  [Daily Caller, 11/30/12]

Washington Examiner Editorial Writer Conn Carroll: “But as a backup plan, passing a tax cut for 98 percent of Americans, while avoiding any of the additional new stimulus spending that Obama is asking for, may be the best Republicans can hope for right now.” [Conn Carroll Column, Washington Examiner, 12/5/12]

NY Times Columnist David Brooks: “So Republicans have to realize that they are going to cave on tax rates.” [New York Times, 12/4/12]

National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru: “The low-risk [option] is to pass an extension of the middle-class tax cuts, which presumably the Democrats would have to pass, and watch taxes for high earners rise. That way at least Republicans wouldn’t get blamed for middle-class tax increases. That second option isn’t great. But it’s better than some of the possible deals I’ve been reading and hearing about.” [National Review, 11/30/12]

Wall Street Journal Editorial: “This is where Mr. Norquist can give some ground. If taxes are going up anyway because the Bush rates expire, and Republicans can stop them from going up as much as they otherwise would, then pledge-takers deserve some credit for that.” [Wall Street Journal, 11/27/12]

“While too many Americans in Nevada and across the country continue to struggle, there is no doubt our economy is moving in the right direction. The only question is whether Republicans will jeopardize the progress made so far by forcing a $2,200 tax hike on middle class families, or initiating another destructive fight over the debt ceiling.

“The steps we need to take to keep our economy moving in the right direction are simple. Speaker Boehner should pass the Senate’s middle-class tax cut bill immediately, and Senator McConnell should allow an up-or-down vote on his own proposal to give the President the authority to avoid default by raising the debt ceiling.

“If Republicans refuse to take these simple steps, their focus will be clear:  they are more interested in appeasing the Tea Party than protecting the middle class.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) released the following statement today after Senator McConnell filibustered a bill to give the President the authority to raise the debt ceiling – a bill that Senator McConnell introduced earlier today.

“The Senate should pass Senator McConnell’s proposal to give the President the authority to avoid the knock-down, drag-out fight we had over the debt ceiling last year – a fight that caused the first-ever downgrade of this country’s credit, and cost our economy billions. Senator McConnell’s filibuster prevented us from having this vote today, but I will continue to seek an agreement to hold an up-or-down vote on his proposal to avoid another debt ceiling debacle.

“After leading three hundred and eighty five filibusters in recent years, Senator McConnell took obstruction to new heights by filibustering his own bill. Republicans’ obstruction and intransigence turned the last debt ceiling fight into a disaster for the middle-class. We should give American families the security of knowing we will never go through such a harmful ordeal again.”

“The only question left is how long Speaker Boehner will make middle class families wait for relief and how long he’ll force the financial markets to wait for certainty.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding tax and budget negotiations. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Democrats have been saying it for more than four months: it’s time for the House to pass the middle-class tax cut approved by the Senate.

But as the days until the country goes over the fiscal cliff tick by, more and more Republicans have joined our chorus. They realize Republican leaders’ unwillingness to compromise sooner has put them in a real bind.

So reasonable Republicans are asking their House leadership to allow a vote on the Senate-passed legislation. What was once a trickle has become a flood.

Last week Republican Rep. Tom Cole said it was time to give middle-class families certainty their taxes won’t go up by $2,200 on January 1.

Then Rep. Tim Scott, also a Republican, admitted the Senate’s middle-class tax cut would surely pass the House – since it will take only 26 moderate, Republican votes to ensure passage.

Conservative opinion makers piled on. Columnist David Brooks, of the New York Times, wrote: “Republicans have to realize that they are going to cave on tax rates.”

Then on Tuesday the Senior Senator from Maine, Olympia Snowe, urged House Republican leaders to end the suspense for middle-class taxpayers.

They shouldn’t have to wonder, she said, whether “we will ultimately raise taxes on low- to middle-income people.” I assure them, we won’t.

And on Wednesday Senator Susan Collins, joined her colleague from Maine, agreeing the idea of ending the suspense for the middle class “has merit.”

Yesterday, it seemed every practical Republican left in Washington was suddenly willing to say out loud what we’ve known for weeks: the only remaining option is for the House to pass the Senate bill.

Dozens of House Republicans signed onto a letter urging Speaker Boehner to take the last exit before the cliff.

Neither President Obama nor Democrats in Congress have ever been ambiguous about our proposal – to provide economic security for 98 percent of American families, while asking the wealthiest 2 percent to contribute just a little more to stop runaway debt.

And now that even a dyed-in-the-wool conservative like Senator Coburn has endorsed the Democratic approach, Speaker Boehner has the political cover he needs.

“I know we have to raise revenue,” Senator Coburn said Wednesday. “I would rather see the rates go up,” he said, than eliminate tax credits and deductions that benefit the middle class.

It’s apparent how this will end. The only question left is how long Speaker Boehner will make middle class families wait for relief and how long he’ll force the financial markets to wait for certainty.

The longer he delays, the greater the risk to our economy. So I urge Speaker Boehner, if you won’t listen to me, listen to your own caucus. Listen to prudent members of your own party.

We can argue whether to give more unnecessary tax breaks to the wealthy tomorrow. We can discuss balanced, responsible ways to reduce our deficit next week. We can reform our tax code next year. But we must give economic certainty to the middle class today.

Democrats agree. Independents agree. Republicans agree. Americans agree. Even dozens of CEOs of major corporations – whose personal taxes would go up under our plan – emphatically agree.

I’ve been saying for weeks that the only people who aren’t on board are Republicans in Congress. But now even they are crying out for compromise. I only hope Speaker Boehner is listening.

COBURN: ‘I’D RATHER SEE RATES GO UP.’ “Personally, I know we have to raise revenue; I don’t really care which way we do it.  Actually, I would rather see the rates go up than do it the other way, because it gives us greater chance to reform the tax code and broaden the base in the future.” [The Hill, 12/5/12]

GROWING NUMBER OF GOP LAWMAKERS AGREE

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-ME): “Senator Olympia J. Snowe of Maine, who is retiring, joined a handful of other Republicans on Tuesday suggesting that Congress should pass the middle-class tax cut extensions now, then leave the fight over taxes and spending until later. Americans, she said, ‘should not even be questioning that we will ultimately raise taxes on low- to middle-income people.’ Congress could take that off the table ‘while you’re grappling with tax cuts for the wealthy,’ she said.” [NY Times, 12/5/12]

Rep. Kay Granger (R-TX): Separately, Representative Kay Granger of Texas is endorsing Oklahoma Republican Tom Cole’s call to extend all tax cuts for middle-class earners as “just the right thing to do.” [Bloomberg, 12/5/12]

Rep. Walter Jones (R-NC): “I would probably vote for it at that point.” [Huffington Post, 12/4/12]

Rep. Steve LaTourette (R-OH): “Rate increase, if the package includes significant entitlement reform that gets you to $4 to $6 trillion (in deficit savings) over 10 years, I would vote for that.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Charles Bass (R-NH): “If it gets us past the fiscal cliff and the president is willing to consider meaningful savings in entitlements, it’s a legitimate solution.” [The Associated Press, 11/30/12]

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now.” [Politico, 11/27/12]

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA): “I have to say that if you’re going to sign me up with a camp, I like what Tom Cole has to say.” [CNN, 11/29/12]

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID): “I wouldn’t have a problem with letting those tax rates go up.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL): “Tom Cole is talking about passing the ones that are out there so there could be more certainty, and I think that would be a positive step.” [NY Times, 11/29/12]

CONSERVATIVE OPINION MAKERS ALSO SEE WRITING ON WALL

NY Post Columnist John Podhoretz: “Republicans have a bad hand to play when it comes to the “fiscal cliff” coming up Jan. 1, when taxes will rise automatically on everyone and whopping defense cuts will be imposed automatically.  The truth is, every way you look at it, the GOP is trapped. Republican politicians will cave and give the president most of what he wants… The only real question is when. The answer is: Probably at the worst possible time, when they’ve done even more damage to the party’s ‘brand.’”  [NY Post, 12/5/12]

Daily Caller Columnist Matt K. Lewis:  “Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t see how Republicans have anything but bad options regarding the fiscal cliff. At least, not in the short term… This hasn’t stopped some conservative pundits from acting as if Republicans hold all the cards. But the notion that Republicans have leverage is silly. It’s the same kind of happy thinking that led some to boldly predict a Romney victory.”  [Daily Caller,11/30/12]

Washington Examiner Editorial Writer Conn Carroll: “But as a backup plan, passing a tax cut for 98 percent of Americans, while avoiding any of the additional new stimulus spending that Obama is asking for, may be the best Republicans can hope for right now.” [Conn Carroll Column, Washington Examiner, 12/5/12]

NY Times Columnist David Brooks: “So Republicans have to realize that they are going to cave on tax rates.” [New York Times, 12/4/12]

National Review’s Ramesh Ponnuru: “The low-risk [option] is to pass an extension of the middle-class tax cuts, which presumably the Democrats would have to pass, and watch taxes for high earners rise. That way at least Republicans wouldn’t get blamed for middle-class tax increases. That second option isn’t great. But it’s better than some of the possible deals I’ve been reading and hearing about.” [National Review, 11/30/12]

Wall Street Journal Editorial: “This is where Mr. Norquist can give some ground. If taxes are going up anyway because the Bush rates expire, and Republicans can stop them from going up as much as they otherwise would, then pledge-takers deserve some credit for that.” [Wall Street Journal, 11/27/12]

“The few reasonable Republicans left in Congress agree we need to give certainty to middle-class families now.”

“I still believe there are 26 reasonable Republicans willing to put their promise to serve constituents ahead of their pledge to Grover Norquist.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the failure of the disabilities treaty and ongoing tax and budget negotiations. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Across the country, Americans are lamenting the lack of progress in negotiations to avoid a massive tax increase on middle-class families. I share their frustration.

But for insight into why negotiations have been difficult, consider yesterday’s failure of the Disabilities Convention at the hands of the Tea Party.

This shouldn’t have been a battle. But extreme elements of the Republican Party picked a fight where there was none.

Thirty-eight Republicans voted against the Convention, including several who were on the record supporting it.

This treaty, already ratified by 125 countries, would hold foreign nations to the same high standard of treatment the U.S. already maintains for people with disabilities.

And it would safeguard American citizens traveling, working and serving abroad.

The treaty has the support of veterans groups and disability groups from around the country.

It wouldn’t cost taxpayers a penny. It wouldn’t require any changes to existing U.S. law. And the issue is as bipartisan as they come. This is what one Senator said about the treaty:

“Protecting the rights of persons with disabilities, ANY person, is not a political issue. It is a human issue, regardless of where in the world a disabled person strives to live a normal, independent life where basic rights and accessibilities are available. Disability rights and protections have always been a bipartisan issue and ratifying this treaty should be no different.”

That wasn’t some ultra-liberal. That was Senator John McCain, a veteran, who broke with the extremists and Tea Partiers in his party and voted to ratify the treaty.

The Convention also had strong support from a number of other leading Republicans, including President George H.W. Bush and former Senate Majority Leader Bob Dole.

Senator Dole, a disabled veteran of World War II who led the fight to pass the treaty, was here yesterday urging Republicans to support it.

One by one, those Republicans greeted the 89-year-old war hero and patriot, who just last week was in Walter Reed hospital.

And then, one by one, all but a handful of them voted against the treaty – ensuring its failure.

But their professed reasons for opposing it had no basis in fact. Even many Republicans acknowledge that.

There is no justification for sending a message / that every individual around the world / who strives to lead a full and productive life / in spite of a disability / does not deserve the same just treatment.

There is no justification for telling disabled Americans – especially those who have sacrificed their very bodies for our freedom – that they do not deserve the same protections abroad / that they do at home.

Yet that is the message 38 of my Republican colleagues sent yesterday.

And these are the same Republicans with whom Democrats are supposed to reach an agreement to protect middle-class families from a tax increase.

It’s difficult to engage in rational negotiation when one side holds well-known facts and proven truths in such low esteem.

That doesn’t mean compromise is out of reach.

But as negotiations continue, I hope my Republican colleagues will keep in mind the oft-repeated words of Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan:

“You are entitled to your opinion. But you are not entitled to your own facts.”

The stakes are high. The days run short. But there is still a quick, easy way out of this predicament.

The House must take up the Senate-passed, middle-class tax cut. The few reasonable Republicans left in Congress agree we need to give certainty to middle-class families now.

Yesterday, Senator Olympia Snowe, the Senior Senator from Maine, who is retiring, said Congress should fight about tax rates for the top 2 percent after we’ve reassured the middle class.

Americans, “should not even be questioning that we will ultimately raise taxes on low- to middle-income people.”

If House Republican leaders allow a vote on our legislation, it will pass. Every Democrat will vote for it.

It will only take 26 Republican votes to push the legislation across the finish line.

And I still believe there are 26 reasonable Republicans willing to put their promise to serve constituents ahead of their pledge to Grover Norquist.

“Given the choice between millionaires and the middle class, Republicans sided with the wealthiest few.”

“Democrats won’t pass it. President Obama won’t sign it. And the American people won’t support it.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding tax and budget negotiations. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

It’s been nearly three weeks since leaders from both parties commenced negotiations with President Obama to avert the fiscal cliff.

But yesterday, after weeks of delay – and as the days dwindled until taxes are set to go up for millions of families and businesses – Republicans finally showed up to the negotiating table.

And now we know why they’ve been holding their cards so close to the vest: their proposal would raise taxes on the middle class.

Their plan to raise $800 billion in revenue by eliminating popular tax deductions and credits would reach deep into the pockets of middle class families.

Republicans are so intent on protecting low tax rates for millionaires and billionaires, they are willing to sacrifice the economic security of the middle class to do it.

Their proposal was short on specifics. But we know from independent analyses that it’s impossible to raise enough revenue to make a dent in our deficit without doing one of two things: raising tax rates on the top two percent or raising taxes on the middle class.

The nonpartisan Tax Policy Center called it “mathematically impossible” to reduce the deficit and give more tax cuts to the rich without harming the middle class.

As usual, given the choice between millionaires and the middle class, Republicans sided with the wealthiest few.

In fact, their plan doesn’t just keep rates low for the richest 2 percent – it actually lowers them further.

Democrats’ plan would protect 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses from painful tax increases by asking the top 2 percent to pay a little bit more to reduce the deficit.

Republicans’ plan, on the other hand, is more of the same.

Not only does it balance the budget on the backs of the middle class, it voids our promise to seniors with steep cuts to Social Security and Medicare – all to pay for even more handouts to the rich.

At least now we know where they stand.

Republicans have sought cover by invoking Erskine Bowles’ name, but he has disavowed their plan in no uncertain terms.

We are glad to finally see Republicans joining in the negotiating process instead of watching from the sidelines.

But while their proposal may be serious, it’s also a non-starter.

They know any agreement that raises taxes on the middle class in order to protect more unnecessary giveaways to the top 2 percent is doomed from the start.

Democrats won’t pass it.

President Obama won’t sign it.

And the American people won’t support it.

They are tired of budget-busting giveaways to the wealthiest few – people who have enjoyed growing paychecks and shrinking tax bills for more than a decade.

The American people want a balanced deal. And simple math dictates that a balanced deal must include higher tax rates for the richest few.

Republicans would be wise to keep that in mind as negotiations move forward.

Democrats are willing to compromise.

But we will not consign the middle class to higher tax bills while millionaires and billionaires avoid all the pain.

“To protect millionaires, Speaker Boehner’s offer would force middle class families to pay higher taxes. Raising taxes on the middle class is bad policy and flunks the test of balance. To protect the middle class while reducing the deficit, simple math dictates that tax rates must rise on the top two percent of taxpayers next year. The sooner Republicans grasp that reality, the sooner we can avoid the fiscal cliff.

“Democrats are willing to compromise, but any agreement must protect the middle class. We have also been clear that we have no intention of kicking the can down the road. Not only does Speaker Boehner’s proposal delay revenues into 2013, it sets up another destructive fight over the debt ceiling first thing next year.

“Republicans have made an offer, but now it is time for them to get serious about forging a balanced approach.”

“The sooner they make a legitimate offer, the sooner we can all start working to find the middle ground.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the tax and budget negotiations. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Before I came to Congress, I was a lawyer.

I tried lots of cases – including more than 100 jury trials.

But my greatest victories were the cases that never saw the inside of a courtroom.

As the English poet George Herbert said, “A lean compromise is better than a fat lawsuit.”

It’s always better to settle than to fight it out. So I’ve done my fair share of negotiating – both as a lawyer and as a lawmaker.

And I have a bit of negotiating advice for Republican Leaders: you’re doing it wrong.

Generally during a negotiation, each side brings an offer or demand to the table. And then the two sides sit down and find middle ground everyone can live with.

It’s not always easy and it’s rarely ever fun. True compromise means no one gets everything they want.

But unless both sides come to the table with an offer, you can’t even begin the negotiation.

In fact, unless both sides come to the table with an offer, it’s not really a negotiation at all.

Over the last week, Republican Leaders from both Chambers have complained that Democrats put forward a proposal for resolving the fiscal cliff that reflected our priorities. What did they expect?

Our proposal is simple: we want to end unnecessary tax breaks for the richest of the rich and provide security for everyone making less than $250,000.

No one should be surprised by President Obama’s offer. It is exactly what he has said he supports time and again.

It’s what I have said I support time and again.

It’s what Democratic Senators campaigned on across the country.

This plan to protect 98 percent of American families from a tax increase also passed the Senate four months ago.

And it has the support of the American people.

Sixty percent of Americans – including 63 percent of independents – support raising taxes on those making more than $250,000.

I wish I could share with you the details of the Republicans’ answering proposal.

Unfortunately, they have yet to produce one.

We’re not going to do their homework for them.

It is Republicans’ responsibility to respond with a counter-offer – not a hint dropped during a Wall Street Journal interview or a Sunday talk show, but a real offer.
And the sooner they make a legitimate offer, the sooner we can all start working to find the middle ground.

Let me remind my Republican colleagues that, as we work toward a final agreement, millions of middle-class families are nervously watching and waiting.

For four months, Republicans have held them hostage to protect the richest 2 percent of taxpayers.

Reasonable, rank-and-file Republicans are urging their leadership to stop delaying Senate-passed legislation that would give millions of middle-class families making less than $250,000 the certainty their taxes won’t go up by $2,200 on January 1.

It wouldn’t be hard for Speaker Boehner to pass our bill. Every Democrat in the House will vote for it.

To reach 218 votes to pass our legislation, it only takes 26 reasonable Republicans willing to put the needs of the middle class ahead of the demands of Grover Norquist.

As my friend and colleague, the Senior Senator from Missouri, Claire McCaskill, said on Sunday, John Boehner has a decision to make.

This is what she said: “He’s got to decide, is his speakership more important or is the country more important?”

As we continue to hope for a balanced agreement that will safeguard the economy, I hope Speaker Boehner ends the suspense for millions of American families.

THREE NEW GOP LAWMAKERS ECHO REP. TOM COLE

Rep. Tom Cole (R-OK): “I think we ought to take the 98 percent deal right now.” [Politico, 11/27/12]

Rep. Mary Bono Mack (R-CA): “I have to say that if you’re going to sign me up with a camp, I like what Tom Cole has to say.” [CNN, 11/29/12]

Rep. Mike Simpson (R-ID): “I wouldn’t have a problem with letting those tax rates go up.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Rep. Robert Dold (R-IL): “Tom Cole is talking about passing the ones that are out there so there could be more certainty, and I think that would be a positive step.” [NY Times, 11/29/12]

HOUSE GOP LAWMAKERS: ‘SENATE BILL COULD PASS THE HOUSE’

Rep. Steve King (R-IA): “Conservatives might be able to figure how they can go home and rationalize a vote that included a revenue increase and or a tax rate increase.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Spokesman for Rep Tim Scott (R-SC): Such a measure “could pass the House.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

Anonymous GOP Lawmaker: “Another senior Republican lawmaker, who asked not to be identified, told Reuters that a Democratic bill, which passed the Senate in July and would raise income taxes on families with net incomes above $250,000, could pass his chamber if it got to the floor.” [Reuters, 11/29/12]

It took four months, but Republicans are finally realizing the way back from the fiscal cliff has been right in front of them all along.

In July, the Senate passed legislation to give economic certainty to 98 percent of families and 97 percent of small businesses – to every American making less than $250,000 a year.

For four months we’ve been one vote away from a solution to this looming crisis.

And for four months, House Republicans have refused to act.

Instead they have held the middle class hostage to protect the richest 2 percent of taxpayers – people who have enjoyed a decade of ballooning income and shrinking tax bills.

Now reasonable Republicans are coming around to what Democrats have said all along: let’s reassure millions of middle-class Americans their taxes won’t go up by $2,200 on January 1.

Prominent Republicans are calling on Speaker Boehner to end the suspense for millions of American families.

Republican Congressman Tom Cole of Oklahoma urged his caucus to pass the Senate’s legislation keeping taxes low for those making less than $250,000.

And conservative, Republican Congressman Tim Scott of South Carolina admitted yesterday that if the Speaker brought our bill to a vote, it would surely to pass.

It’s time House Republican leadership listened to the will of the American people – and the advice of reasonable members of their own caucus.

The way out of this standoff is clear.

Yet we’re left wondering how long Republicans will force middle-class families to wait and worry.

Unfortunately, resolving this standoff won’t eliminate every conflict over our fiscal future.

If we’re serious about reducing the deficit, it will take a balanced approach.

Last year, we successfully worked across party lines to cut a trillion dollars’ worth of spending we just couldn’t afford.

Now, even our Republican colleagues acknowledge budget cuts alone won’t solve our fiscal challenges.

A majority of Americans – 60 percent – want to end needless tax breaks for the richest Americans. Democrats couldn’t agree more.

But we can argue over whether to give more unnecessary handouts to the wealthy tomorrow.

We can discuss balanced, responsible ways to reduce our deficit tomorrow.

Let’s take care of the middle class today.

Too often, it is a challenge finding common ground in Washington.

But as we negotiate a path back from the fiscal cliff, we should also recognize when Democrats and Republicans agree.

We agree taxes should not go up for anyone making less than $250,000 a year – 97 percent of small businesses and 98 percent of middle-class families.

With common ground in sight, we should be able to act today to avert the fiscal cliff for millions of families and business.

Even if we disagree on whether to end tax breaks for the wealthiest two percent of Americans, we should agree to hold the middle class harmless – and do it now.

A single vote in the House of Representatives would get the job done.

Unfortunately, there’s one obstacle standing between Congress and compromise: Grover Norquist.

For years, Norquist has bullied lawmakers willing to put their oath of office or their promise to serve constituents ahead of their pledge to the anti-tax zealot.

His brand of ideological extremism has been bad for Congress and even worse for the country.

So I was pleased to see a few Republicans in Congress distance themselves from Norquist this week.

Several Republican lawmakers have said revenue should be on the table during fiscal cliff negotiations.

Now it’s time for those Republicans to turn happy talk into action.

President Obama and Senate Democrats ran on a promise to end the Bush tax breaks for the wealthy.

Americans raised their voices, cast their votes and supported our pledge.

Congress must act in accordance with the will of the American people.

An agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff must give economic certainty to middle-class families.

It must protect important tax deductions for families and businesses still struggling to recover from the Great Recession.

It must take a balanced approach to reduce spending.

But it must also ask the richest of the rich to pay a little extra to reduce the deficit.

Any balanced agreement will require difficult concessions from both sides.

Clinging to the kind of ideological purity Grover Norquist peddles – saying you’ll never bend or compromise – is easy.

Cooperating with those with whom you disagree is hard.

Doing what’s right for the country – despite the personal cost – is hard.

Legislating is hard.

As we approach the fiscal cliff, Democrats are ready to make tough choices.

I hope my Republican friends – especially those who claim they put no pledge before their pledge to serve their constituents – can say the same.

Senate-Passed Bill is Only One With a Chance to Become Law

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks on the Senate floor today regarding the bipartisan compromise needed to avoid the fiscal cliff. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

In the weeks since our country voted to return President Barack Obama to the White House and a Democratic majority to the Senate, I have spoken often about compromise.

And I remain optimistic that when it comes to our economy – when it comes to protecting middle-class families from a whopping tax hike come January 1 – Republicans and Democrats will be able to find common ground.

President Dwight Eisenhower, a Republican, once said, “People talk about the middle of the road as though it were unacceptable… There have to be compromises. The middle of the road is all of the usable surface.”

Too often Republicans and Democrats in Washington face off from our entrenched positions – never realizing the solutions to this country’s problems rest not on one side of the aisle or the other, but somewhere in the middle.

However, as we continue to negotiate a responsible path forward, I remind everyone within the sound of my voice of one fact: this Congress is already one vote away from avoiding the fiscal cliff for middle class families and small businesses.

We could solve the greatest economic emergency facing the nation today – if only the House would consider the Senate-passed bill freezing tax rates for 98 percent of American families and 97 percent of small businesses.

As Thomas Jefferson said, we should not put off for tomorrow what we can do today.

Our legislation would give economic certainty to the middle-class, protect important tax deductions for families and businesses and restore balance by asking the most fortunate among us to pay a little extra to reduce the deficit.

It’s also the only bill with a chance of being signed into law by President Obama.

I was dismayed to hear Speaker Boehner once again urge the Senate to take up the House-passed bill extending more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.

The Senate has already considered that bill – and rejected it on a bipartisan basis.

The Senate has spoken.

And President Obama has spoken. He has promised he will not sign any bill that mortgages our future to pay for handouts to the wealthiest 2 percent.

I only hope House Republicans have been listening.

I also hope my colleagues – Republicans and Democrats, members of the House and of the Senate – used the Thanksgiving break not only to give thanks but also to reflect on the monumental tasks ahead.

And I hope they took time to reflect on the effort it will take to complete those tasks.

As President Eisenhower said, there will have to be compromises.

And seeking the middle of the road isn’t just acceptable – it’s the only way forward.

Sen. Lindsay Graham (R-SC): “When you’re $16 trillion in debt, the only pledge we should be making to each other is to avoid becoming Greece, and Republicans — Republicans should put revenue on the table. We’re this far in debt. We don’t generate enough revenue.”  [ABC’s This Week, 11/25/12]

Rep. Peter King (R-NY): “A pledge you signed 20 years ago, 18 years ago, is for that Congress.  For instance, if I were in Congress in 1941, I would have signed a declaration of war against Japan.  I’m not going to attack Japan today.  The world has changed.  And the economic situation is different.  Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill realized that in the 1980s.  I think everything should be on the table.” [NBC’s Meet the Press, 11/25/12]

Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA): “I care more about my country than I do about a 20-year-old pledge.  If we do it his way then we’ll continue in debt, and I just have a disagreement with him about that.” [WMAZ News, 11/22/12]

Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN): “I’m not obligated on the pledge.  I was just elected; the only thing I’m honoring is the oath that I take when I serve, when I’m sworn in in January.”  [The Hill, 11/26/12]

“On Tuesday, Americans from across the political spectrum made it clear that they want a balanced approach to tax policy that asks millionaires and billionaires to pay a little bit more. The sooner Republicans come to grips with this reality, the sooner we can forge an agreement to avoid the fiscal cliff and prevent a tax hike on middle class Americans.

“The Senate passed a bill to cut taxes for Americans making less than $250,000, and the House should pass it immediately. Our bill cuts taxes for small businesses. When Republicans talk about small businesses, they are really trying to protect millionaires like Donald Trump.

“It is time for us to put politics aside and give the American people the balanced approach they are demanding. I am optimistic that we can meet this challenge before the end of the year.”

NATIONAL EXIT POLLS: 60% OF VOTERS SUPPORT HIGHER TAXES ON WEALTHY

POLITICO: “More than half of voters favor increasing taxes, according to early exit polls released Tuesday night. Six in 10 voters nationwide say they think taxes should be increased, a welcome statistic for President Barack Obama and a sign that the president’s attacks on Mitt Romney’s proposed tax cuts for the wealthy may have been effective.” [11/6/12]

PUNDITS AGREE: OBAMA WON PUBLIC’S BACKING ON TAX ISSUE

WEEKLY STANDARD’S BILL KRISTOL: “President Obama won re-election. I hate to say it, but he said he wanted to raise taxes on the wealthy and he got 51 percent of the vote. They won seats in the Senate and the House.” [Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, 11/7/12]

WSJ’s STEPHEN MOORE: “Now, look, Barack Obama won the election. Elections have consequences. He ran on the fact that he’s going to raise those tax cuts — those tax rates on the rich, so he can claim that he’s got a voter mandate to do that.” [FBN’s The Willis Report, 11/7/12]

NBC’s CHUCK TODD & DAVID GREGORY:

GREGORY: “Did the President win the fight over taxes last night?”

TODD: “I looked at that exit poll. It sure looks like it to me.”

GREGORY: “Yeah.”

TODD: “Maybe not on health care. There were some other things that didn’t go so well for the President, but boy, on taxes, it wasn’t even close.”

[NBC’s The Daily Rundown, 11/7/12]

CNN’s ANDERSON COOPER: “This president got re-elected very clearly saying that is what he wanted to do—to raise taxes on the wealthiest Americans. The Republican challenger said he did not want to do that and he did not get elected. Doesn’t that give President Obama and the Democrats some right to push for raising taxes on the wealthiest Americans?” [CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360, 12/7/12]

SLATE’S DAVE WEIGEL: “Barack Obama ran on one consistent tax promise, in both 2008 and 2012. Vote for him, and you’d see middle-class tax rates stay the same while the rate on income over $250,000 increased to 39.6 percent. /// Twice, in four years, a majority of voters have picked Obama for president, knowing full well that he’ll raise upper-income tax rates.” [Slate, 11/7/12]

“Today’s job numbers make one thing clear: President Obama’s policies are moving our economy forward, creating more jobs than expected in October and more than 5 million over the past 32 months.

“We have a great deal more to do and too many Nevadans are still out of work. But this recovery would be even stronger if Republicans had decided to work with Democrats, instead of obstructing at every turn. As we look to the challenges facing us in the coming months, I hope that my Republican colleagues will re-evaluate their strategy, stop trying to appease the Tea Party, and instead choose to help all Americans by reaching across the aisle to get things done. The American people expect us to put politics aside and do the right thing for middle-class families, and they deserve nothing less from their elected leaders.”

“We still have a lot of work to do, but with unemployment dropping below 8 percent to the lowest level in four years, our economy is on the right track. The unemployment rate fell even after more than four hundred thousand people entered the workforce. There are still far too many people looking for work in Nevada and across the nation, but today’s report shows that the balanced policies advanced by President Obama and Democrats in the House and Senate are working to move our economy forward.

“We could be moving even faster if Republicans would drop their knee-jerk obstruction and work with Democrats. My counterpart, Senator McConnell, said that his ‘single most important’ goal was defeating President Obama, not working to create jobs or grow the middle class. It’s time for Republicans to put politics aside, and put the middle class first.”

AP – Republican objections to spending in veterans jobs bill blocks election-year legislation -The Senate blocked legislation Wednesday that would have established a $1 billion jobs program putting veterans back to work tending to the country’s federal lands and bolstering local police and fire departments. Republicans said the spending authorized in the bill violated limits that Congress agreed to last year. Democrats fell two votes shy of the 60-vote majority needed to waive the objection, forcing the legislation back to committee. LINK

Roll Call – Senate GOP Blocks Veterans Jobs Bill - Senate Republicans today defeated Democratic legislation designed to help veterans get jobs, complaining that the measure violates budget rules and is meant to score political points rather than help veterans. “Americans don’t trust us,” said Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee. “And why should Americans trust us when we keep using gimmicks and budget sleight of hand to hide more spending and drive the country further into debt.” LINK

National Journal – Senate Republicans Stop Vote On Vet Jobs Bill - Senate Republicans effectively killed a measure to find jobs for unemployed veterans on a procedural vote Wednesday, after several attempts by Democrats to keep the bill on the table failed.  Sen. Jeff Sessions, R-Ala., raised a point of order against the bill on Wednesday, citing alleged violations of Senate budget rules. Since three-fifths of the chamber did not vote to waive the rules, the legislation cannot move forward.LINK

Washington Post – Bill to create Veterans Job Corps fails to advance - Legislation to create a Veterans Job Corps suffered a major defeat Wednesday afternoon after Republicans successfully blocked the bill’s advance with a budgetary point of order. The Senate voted 58 to 43 largely on party lines in favor of waiving the procedural objection, short of the three-fifths majority needed. Republicans said the bill was in violation of the Budget Control Act, prohibiting new programs that would add to the deficit. LINK

The Guardian – Veterans’ bill voted down by GOP as Senate Democrats proclaim ‘new low’ -Republicans have voted down legislation that would have established a $1bn jobs programme to put unemployed veterans back to work as firefighters, police officers and in public work projects. They objected to the cost of the bill, which they said violates spending limits agreed to last year in Congress. Democrats and veterans groups say its cost are fully offset. The bill, which had bipartisan support in the Senate and would have given priority to post-9/11 veterans whose employment prospects are three points below the national average, fell two votes short of the majority of 60 needed to waive Republican objections. LINK

“The unemployment rate is falling as we saw the thirtieth straight month of private sector job growth, with the economy adding nearly one hundred thousand new jobs. While our recovery is still moving too slowly for many Americans, job growth would likely have been even stronger if Republicans had not blocked Democratic efforts to hire more teachers, firefighters and police officers.

“At the end of the day, too many people in Nevada and across America are still struggling to get by. The best way to speed up our recovery is for Republicans to stop their knee-jerk obstruction of every effort Democrats put forward, and start working across the aisle to find common ground. Next week, the Senate will vote to give employers incentives to hire veterans, so our heroes are not left out in the cold when they return home. This is a common-sense jobs bill, and I hope Republicans will join Democrats in supporting it.

“The Republican leader said his single most important goal was defeating President Obama. To speed up our recovery, it’s time for Republicans to put politics aside, and join Democrats to make the middle class their top priority.”

“As we pause on Labor Day to celebrate our hard-working middle class, we know that too many working men and women in Nevada and across the country are still struggling to regain their footing. Our economic recovery will not be complete until everyone who wants a job can find one.

“It is not enough to simply pay lip service to our nation’s workforce. Americans are looking to their elected leaders for action that will grow the middle class. Republicans will have another chance to join Democrats on common-sense, job-creating legislation when the Senate votes to give businesses incentives to hire veterans, and ensure that our nation’s heroes are not left out in the cold when they return home. And if Republicans would drop their obstruction, we could take action immediately to protect the middle class from the fiscal cliff by cutting taxes for 98 percent of Americans, and asking millionaires to pay their fair share towards deficit reduction.

“Unfortunately, Republicans have made it clear that their single most important goal is defeating President Obama, not growing the middle class. American workers and their families need Republicans in Congress to put politics aside, and make putting Americans back to work their top priority.”

“In Nevada and across America there are still far too many Americans looking for work. But we have now seen 27 straight months of private sector job growth, along with encouraging progress in critical sectors such as manufacturing. Our economy is recovering, but recovering slowly.

“The main obstacle standing in the way of a stronger economic recovery is the unprecedented, politically-motivated obstruction from Republicans in Congress. My counterpart, Senator McConnell, announced that his ‘single most important’ goal was defeating President Obama. Republicans have followed his lead, blocking bill after bill that would create jobs and help middle-class families, often without even bothering to pretend they disagree with the bipartisan, common-sense policies they are obstructing.

“The best thing we can do to spur on our recovery is to protect middle-class families from the fiscal cliff. Last week, the Senate passed a bill that would prevent middle-class families’ taxes from rising on January 1. Sadly, House Republicans are holding these middle-class tax cuts hostage, demanding additional tax cuts for the top two percent of taxpayers.

“Instead of spending all of their energy trying to defeat President Obama, I hope my Republican colleagues will listen to their constituents, drop their obstruction, and start working with Democrats. Middle-class Americans expect us to put politics aside and do the right thing for our economy, and they deserve nothing less.”

I was pleased to hear Speaker Boehner say last week that he will bring the Senate-passed middle class tax cut to the House floor for a vote.

The nation is one vote away from avoiding the fiscal cliff for middle class families.

Every member of the House of Representatives should have the opportunity to show where they stand: with millionaires or with the middle class.

Members can support Democrats’ plan to cut taxes for 98 percent of Americans while reducing the deficit by almost $1 trillion.

Or they can support the Republican plan to hand out more tax breaks to millionaires and billionaires while increasing taxes for 25 million families struggling to put kids through college and food on the table.

The two approaches demonstrate a glaring difference in priorities.

But there’s another difference between the two plans: Democrats’ proposal is the only one with a chance of actually becoming law.

President Obama has said he would sign it tomorrow. What he won’t do is sign into law any more wasteful giveaways to the wealthiest two percent.

And the Senate has already defeated the Republican proposal in a bipartisan vote, so it’s simply a waste of time for House Republicans to continue to pursue their middle-class tax hike.

House Republicans should stop holding the middle class hostage to extract more tax cuts for the richest of the rich. They should pass our middle class tax cut now.

American families can’t afford to wait until the last moment to find out what their bottom line will look like come January 1.

They’re sitting around the kitchen table today figuring out whether they can afford to buy their first house, send their kids to college or retire.

Republicans shouldn’t force 114 million families to guess whether they’ll have $1,600 less to spend or save next year.

They need certainty now. And one simple vote can give them that certainty.

Today the Senate also continues work to address a problem national security experts call the most urgent threat to our country: weaknesses in our defenses again cyber attack.

Cyber terrorism could cripple the computer networks that control our electrical grid, water supplies and sewers, nuclear plants, energy pipelines, transportation networks, communications equipment and financial systems.

General Martin Dempsey, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has said “a cyber attack could stop this society in its tracks.”

But cyber espionage doesn’t just threaten our national security – it threatens our economic security.

Hackers have already attacked most major corporations and the NASDAQ stock exchange.

Attacks like these cost our economy billions of dollars a year and thousands of jobs.

General James Clapper, director of National Intelligence, said Chinese cyber theft of American intellectual property is “the greatest pillaging of wealth in history.”

“That’s our future disappearing in front of us,” added General Keith Alexander, director of the National Security Administration.

In a report released last year, the Chamber of Commerce said government and the private sector should work together to develop incentives for businesses to voluntarily act to protect our nation’s critical infrastructure.

This legislation will do exactly that – establish a public-private partnership to make our nation safer and protect American jobs.

I hope that the Chamber will join the effort to pass this important legislation.

While I personally believe this bill could go further to address threats to critical infrastructure – the networks that operate our electric grid, our water supply and other life-sustaining systems – it is a tremendous first step.

I applaud Senator Lieberman, Senator Collins, Senator Feinstein and Senator Rockefeller for their work on this legislation.

The bill managers are compiling a list of relevant amendments for consideration. I hope we can cooperate to work through that list and pass this legislation by the end of the week.

We can’t afford to fail to address what experts call the greatest security challenge since the dawn of the nuclear age.

Today the Senate will vote on whether to end a filibuster of Judge Robert Bacharach, a nominee from Oklahoma to the Tenth Circuit Court of Appeals.

By any measure, Bacherach is the type of non-controversial nominee the Senate would routinely confirm with broad, bipartisan support.

He was reported out of the Judiciary Committee by voice vote.

And he has the support of the two Republican Senators from his home state of Oklahoma.

Senator Coburn, the Junior Senator from Oklahoma, said Friday, Bacherach is “just a stellar candidate, and he ought to get through.”

Yet Republicans have signaled they may block his confirmation.

If they hold up this consensus candidate, it will be the first time an appeals court nominee with bipartisan committee support has ever been successfully filibustered on the floor.

If Senator Coburn and Senator Inhofe withdraw their support for this qualified nominee, blatant partisanship will be to blame.

But don’t take my word for it. Senator Coburn said Bacherach is “an awfully good candidate caught in election-year politics.”

“In the past decade, American companies outsourced almost 2.5 million jobs. Right now, more than 130,000 workers in Nevada are at risk of seeing their jobs sent overseas. But today, Republicans blocked the Senate from debating a common-sense bill that would provide a new tax incentive to create more jobs here at home, and eliminate subsidies for companies that are shipping American jobs overseas.

“Republicans’ presidential candidate, Governor Mitt Romney, made a fortune by encouraging companies to ship American jobs overseas, so it’s little wonder that Senate Republicans are afraid to defend their support for outsourcing.

“Senator McConnell said that his ‘single most important’ goal is defeating President Obama, and in the past week he has made that abundantly clear. It is a shame that middle class families must suffer for Republicans to achieve their political aims.”

Over the last decade American companies outsourced almost 2.5 million jobs, often to countries where they can hire workers for half the price.

And 21 million Americans – including nearly 7 million manufacturing workers – live with the fear that their jobs could be shipped overseas tomorrow.

More than 130,000 of those at-risk workers live in Nevada.

In the presiding officer’s home state of New Mexico, more than 100,000 jobs in manufacturing, sales, management, the financial sector and other industries are in jeopardy.

And more than 300,000 jobs in the state of Kentucky are also at risk.

So I was surprised yesterday when the Minority Leader dismissed efforts to end taxpayer incentives for companies that outsource jobs as unserious.

“Why aren’t we doing anything?” the Minority Leader asked. “It’s time to bring up serious legislation that affects the future of the country.”

At a time when millions of Americans are looking for work, I’m not sure what could be more serious than protecting good-paying, middle-class jobs.

The Bring Jobs Home Act – the measure before this body – would end tax incentives for corporations to ship jobs overseas.

Every time an American company closes a factory or a call center in America and moves operations to another country, taxpayers pick up part of the moving bill.

This legislation would end senseless tax breaks for outsourcers.

And it would offer a 20% tax credit to help with the costs of moving production back to the United States.

In the last few years, major manufacturers like Ford and Caterpillar have brought jobs back to the U.S. from Japan, Mexico and China.

And smaller manufacturers like Master Lock have moved facilities home as well.

Congress must to do everything in its power to encourage this trend.

But let me remind you, the Senate must break a Republican filibuster before it can even begin debating the Bring Jobs Home Act.

This obstruction tactic is unfortunate, but it’s not surprising.

After all, Republicans’ nominee for president made a fortune working for a company that shipped jobs overseas.

Yesterday Senator McConnell said he wants to debate serious legislation.

If that’s the case, he should urge his Republican colleagues to drop their filibuster.

The Bring Jobs Home Act is a common-sense strategy to protect American workers.

To 21 million Americans whose jobs could be the next ones sent to China or India, it’s a very serious proposal.

And to the 2.5 million Americans who jobs have already been offshored, it doesn’t get any more serious than this.

The only ones who aren’t taking this legislation seriously are Republicans in Congress.

If you own a business in this country, your goal is to make a profit.

There’s nothing wrong with that. Millions of hard-working America entrepreneurs are the backbone of our economy.

And if your company boosts profits by sending jobs overseas, that’s your right as a business owner.

But American taxpayers shouldn’t subsidize your business decision to outsource jobs, especially when there are millions of people in this country looking for work.

Over the last 10 years, 2.4 million jobs in call centers and sales centers, in financial firm and factories were shipped overseas.

And American taxpayers helped foot the bill.

Every time U.S. companies ship jobs or facilities overseas, taxpayers help cover their moving costs.

The Bring Jobs Home Act would end these disgraceful subsidies for outsourcing. And it would give a 20% tax credit for the costs of moving production back to the United States.

But Republicans are filibustering this common-sense legislation.

It’s no surprise Republicans are on the side of corporations making big bucks sending American jobs to China and India.

After all, their presidential nominee, Mitt Romney, made a fortune outsourcing jobs, too.

So Republicans are once again putting tax breaks for big corporations and multi-millionaires ahead of the needs of ordinary Americans.

And what most Americans need is a good job here at home and the assurance their taxes won’t go up on January 1.

Yet Republicans in Congress are filibustering legislation to bring jobs home to America.

And they’ve twice blocked a vote on legislation to keep taxes low for 98 percent of American families.

It was Republicans who asked for a vote on their plan to raise taxes for 25 million families and a vote on our plan to keep taxes low for 135 million American taxpayers.

So we offered them what they wanted. We offered them up-or-down votes on both proposals.

No procedural hoops. No delay tactics. Just simple, majority votes on our plan and on theirs.

They refused.

Maybe they refused because they don’t have the votes for their plan to raise taxes on 25 million American families.

Or maybe they refused it because a majority of Americans support our plan to keep taxes low for 98 percent of families, while asking the top 2 percent to contribute a little bit more to reduce the deficit.

Even a majority of Republicans in America support our plan.

Yet still Republicans in Congress are holding hostage tax cuts for nearly every family in America to extort more budget-busting giveaways to millionaires and billionaires.

For a year, the budget deficit was all Republicans talked about.

They were willing to end Medicare as we know it, slash nursing home benefits for seniors, cut investments in education and raise taxes on the middle class – all in the name of deficit reduction.

But now that Democrats have a plan to reduce the deficit by hundreds of billions of dollars simply by ending wasteful tax breaks, Republicans have given up on fiscal responsibility.
So I say this to my Republican friends: you can’t have it both ways.

You can’t call yourself a deficit hawk, then fight for more tax breaks for millionaires and billionaires.

And you can’t call yourself a fiscal conservative, then fight to protect tax breaks for companies that outsource jobs to India or China.

This week Republicans continued to make the case that millionaires and billionaires can’t afford to pay even a penny more in taxes.

Meanwhile, a new report shows average tax rates are at their lowest level in decades.

The non-partisan Congressional Budget Office reported this week that in 2009 rates fell to their lowest level in more than 30 years.

Much of that decline is thanks to President Obama – who has consistently fought to lower taxes for middle-class families over the last three and a half years.

The average tax rate in this country fell to the lowest rate since 1979 – 17.4 percent.

Of course, that’s still a higher rate than Mitt Romney pays.

But most Americans don’t have the benefit of Swiss bank accounts or tax shelters in the Cayman Islands and Bermuda.

As our economy continues to recover, it’s critical we keep tax rates low for the middle class.

They’re still struggling to pay the mortgage, send their kids to college and save for retirement.

That’s why President Obama and Democrats in Congress want to extend tax cuts for 98 percent of American families.

But there’s one group that’s not struggling – Mitt Romney and the rest of the top 2 percent of Americans.

They can afford to contribute a little bit more to get this country’s deficit under control.

Yet Republicans are prepared to block tax cuts for 98 percent of families unless Democrats agree to even more giveaways for the richest of the rich.

As Republicans continue to argue the wealthiest 2 percent can’t contribute even a little more, I urge them to talk to the three-quarters of Americans who disagree.

I urge them to talk to some of the almost 60 percent of Republicans who believe the wealthiest Americans should shoulder their fair share of the responsibility for getting the deficit under control.

And I urge them to talk to a few of the more than 135 million taxpayers who are waiting to see whether Republicans will continue holding their tax cuts hostage.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Senator Orrin Hatch’s amendment to the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act, which would raise taxes on 25 million American families. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Right now the Senate is considering a small business tax cut – proposed by President Obama – that will create 1 million jobs.

This legislation would give tax credits to businesses that grow and hire.

Yet Republicans are looking for any excuse to vote down the proposal for two reasons:

• It has the support of President Obama and Democrats in Congress.
• And it would strengthen the economy, which would help the President.

We know Republicans won’t do anything that helps President Obama – even if it’s good for the economy – because their number one goal is to defeat the President. Mitch McConnell has said so.

So Republicans are hiding behind a procedural trick: filibustering with unrelated amendments.

If there is any doubt about Republicans’ motivation – to kill this legislation – just look at the amendment proposed today by Senator Hatch of Utah.

The first thing Senator Hatch’s amendment would do is eliminate all the tax cuts in the bill.

The amendment would literally eliminate every provision in the bill designed to create jobs.

Senator Hatch’s amendment eliminates the 10% credit for employers that hire additional workers or increase their payroll – a provision that would create half a million jobs.

And it strikes deductions for businesses that invest in machinery and equipment – which would create another half a million jobs.

But the Republican amendment doesn’t stop there.

It goes on to increase taxes for 25 million American families.

Senator Hatch’s amendment would extend tax breaks for the top two percent of Americans. But it fails to extend a number of tax cuts that help middle-class families get by in a tough economy.

Senator Hatch’s amendment will increase taxes by $1,100 for 11 million families trying to pay for college.

Senator Hatch’s amendment would make it harder for 6 million large families to put food on the table. It would increase taxes by $800 for families with at least three children.

And Senator Hatch’s amendment fails to extend the full Child Tax Credit for 12 million families, increasing their taxes by $500.

No one is fooled by this amendment.

We see it for what it is: more Republican obstruction that comes with the added bonus of sticking it to the middle-class.

If that wasn’t enough political theater for one day, my Republican colleagues also claim they’re anxious to vote on President Obama’s plan to cut taxes for 98 percent of American families.

Once again, no one is fooled.

Republicans know very well the Senate will vote on the President’s proposal to give middle-class families certainty they won’t face a tax increase.

We’ll vote on it this work period, as I have already said. They say they want to vote sooner.

So let’s lock in an agreement to vote on:

• The President’s plan to give 98 percent of Americans certainty their taxes won’t go up,
• And the Republican plan to raise taxes on 25 million families.

Democrats are ready to have these votes right away at a simple majority threshold.

Then we can get back to the task at hand – cutting taxes for millions of small businesses that want to expand and put Americans back to work.

Over the last few years, the wealthiest one percent of Americans has taken home the greatest share of the nation’s income since the roaring ‘20s.

But while the bank accounts of a few fortunate Americans have grown, their tax bills have not.

The wealthiest Americans now pay the lowest tax rates in half a century.

And while this generous tax code has been good for their bottom lines, it hasn’t been good for America’s bottom line.

Hundreds of billions of dollars in tax cuts – handed out disproportionately to the rich by the previous administration – have fueled skyrocketing deficits and a growing national debt.

Democrats and Republicans alike agree we have to reduce the deficit and rein in the debt.

Unfortunately, the same Republicans who say we have to get our fiscal house in order also claim millionaires and billionaires can’t afford to contribute their fair share to that effort.

They say multi-millionaires like Mitt Romney need lower taxes than ever.

Well, let me tell you what – Mitt Romney doesn’t need another tax break. In fact, he’s got so much money he doesn’t even know where all of it is.

Some of it has run off to Switzerland, the Cayman Islands, Bermuda. No wonder he doesn’t want America to see his tax returns.

So Mitt Romney is doing just fine. And so are the other millionaires and billionaires in this country.

It’s the middle class I’m worried about.

We all know times have been tough the last few years for ordinary Americans struggling just to keep a roof over their heads and food on the table.

The last thing middle class families can afford now is a tax increase.

That’s why Democrats want to keep taxes low for 98 percent of Americans – everyone making less than $250,000 a year.

But while Democrats are focused on how we can help 98 percent of Americans, Republicans are focused on how they can help Mitt Romney and the rest of the top 2 percent.

And they’re willing to hold tax cuts for everyone else hostage just to protect tax breaks for that top 2 percent.

Democrats don’t agree the top 2 percent of wage earners can’t afford to pay the same tax rate they paid when Bill Clinton was president – back when the budget was balanced and our economy was creating tens of millions of new jobs.

Still, we’re willing to have that debate with our Republican colleagues. We’re willing to discuss it reasonably.

But we don’t believe middle class families should wait and wonder, watch and worry whether their taxes are about to go up while Congress has that conversation.

We shouldn’t wait until the last second to act.

This is what one major newspaper wrote yesterday about the need to act:

“The majority of Americans, and the broader economy, should not be held hostage again to another debate over the merits of tax cuts for the wealthy…. There will never be consensus for solving our nation’s budget problems without first ending the lavish tax breaks at the top.”

So I call on my Republican colleagues to help Democrats give 98 percent of American families the certainty and the security they need right away.

I call on them to help us pass a tax cut that will benefit the middle class without bankrupting our nation.

Because it’s time we faced facts: if we’re serious about reducing the deficit, we can’t keep handing out more tax breaks to the richest Americans.

We will have to make difficult decisions about where to cut and where to invest to keep our nation strong.

But whether to keep taxes low for middle class families shouldn’t be one of the difficult decisions.

I haven’t heard one person – Democrat, Republican or Independent – say we should raise taxes on middle class families.

This is an area where we can easily find common ground.

So, what’s stopping us from doing the right thing – right now? I hope it won’t be more Republican hostage-taking on behalf of the top 2 percent.

Take a look at the map below for a glimpse of how many jobs could be created by state, or click here for a larger view.

Manufacturing, Construction Among Industries That Would Get Biggest Boost

Study Adds Fresh Momentum to Tax Cut Proposal Ahead of Key Test Vote in Senate Later Today

WASHINGTON, DC—The small business tax cut proposal under consideration this week in the Senate would add nearly 1 million new jobs to the U.S. economy, according to a new, independent report released by Senate Democrats on Tuesday.

Nearly two-thirds of the net job creation—about 631,000 of the total 990,592 jobs added—would come from small businesses, according to the nonpartisan estimate. The projection adds fresh momentum to the tax cut measure ahead of a key test vote in the Senate later today.

“Creating close to one million jobs would put a meaningful dent in the unemployment problem,” said Senator Charles E. Schumer (D-NY), who chairs the Senate Democratic Policy and Communications Center. “This tax cut is not a cure-all, but it could be a difference-maker for small firms on the fence about adding payroll. After last month’s sluggish jobs numbers, we may be on the verge of a rare moment of agreement on how to help the economy.”

“This report is further evidence that a new tax cut for small businesses to hire and increase wages will provide a significant boost to the economy. Small businesses are the drivers of economic growth in Pennsylvania and across the country, and passing this tax credit will help them create good-paying, family-sustaining jobs, said Senator Bob Casey (D-PA), the Chairman of the Joint Economic Committee and a co-sponsor of the proposal.

The analysis was performed by Regional Economic Models, Inc. (REMI), an independent, Massachusetts-based firm that conducts economic modeling on behalf of public- and private-sector clients.

“Since businesses that qualify are in each state, we find job impacts in all parts of the country,” said Frederick Treyz, CEO of REMI. “Most job impacts are in services, yet all sectors are affected by the tax changes. Specifically, we see large impacts in construction as some of the provisions target capital costs and because this industry is very responsive to overall economic conditions.”

The Senate Democrats’ tax cut proposal was first proposed by President Barack Obama last year. It would give a 10-percent tax credit to businesses that add payroll in 2012, either by hiring new workers or giving raises to existing employees. Companies would be eligible for the tax break on the first $5 million of new payroll, for a maximum credit of $500,000.

A second element of the proposal would allow businesses to write off 100 percent of the value of new capital investments they make in 2012. Current law only allows businesses to write off 50 percent of these costs.

The report estimated that the proposal’s two main components would have a nearly equal job-boosting effect. The tax credit for firms that add payroll would spur 483,786 new jobs, according to the report. The bonus depreciation provision would be responsible for the addition of 497,554 jobs.

The report concludes that the proposal’s impact would be felt across a range of industries. It estimated that 93,231 new jobs would be added to the construction industry and 60,620 would be added in manufacturing.

A copy of the report—complete with a state-by-state breakdown of the jobs impact of the tax cut—is attached.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

My Republican colleagues talk a good game on taxes.

But Democrats’ record of cutting taxes for small businesses speaks louder than Republican rhetoric.

Since President Obama took office, Democrats have cut taxes for small businesses 18 times.

And today we’ll advance a plan to cut taxes for small firms for the 19th time in just three and a half years.

The Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act would put money back in the coffers of true job creators.

Under our plan, business owners who hire new workers or give raises to current employees would get a 10 percent tax credit.

Our legislation would also cut taxes for firms that invest in new equipment, allowing more than 2 million businesses to grow faster.

These two proposals will create almost a million new jobs.

And economists from across the political spectrum agree this is the most efficient way to give the economy a badly-needed boost.

So if my Republican colleagues want their records to match their rhetoric, they’ll end their filibuster of this worthy measure.

And they’ll vote to support the real job creators – businesses that grow and hire.

Unfortunately, while Republicans agree we should cut taxes, their approach is completely different.

Congressional Republicans want to lavish huge, across-the-board tax breaks on billionaire hedge fund managers and mega-rich celebrities like Donald Trump.

Unlike our proposal, the Republican plan, which passed the House, wouldn’t do a thing to encourage hiring.

More than 99 percent of businesses in America would qualify for this extravagant tax break – even if they didn’t create a single new job or raise wages for one solitary employee.

In fact, fabulously rich so-called “small business owners” like Kim Kardashian and Paris Hilton could qualify for these wasteful giveaways.

Even though three-quarters of Americans oppose more tax breaks for wealthiest few, nearly half the benefits of this $46 billion Republican proposal would go to millionaires and billionaires.

Democrats want to cut taxes for small businesses – but the Republican alternative is simply the wrong way to do it.

“Today’s report is further evidence that Congress should be focusing on creating jobs and helping the middle class, not re-fighting old battles for political gain. Unfortunately, my Republican colleagues have decided they would rather focus their energy on political grandstanding and empty, partisan exercises that will not create a single job. As this report clearly shows, it’s time to move on and focus on jobs.

“To help spark the growth we need, the Senate will move next week to vote on a series of common-sense jobs bills, starting with a tax cut for small businesses that is designed to reward hiring and provide incentives for payroll growth. Unless Republicans are truly rooting for our economy to fail, there is simply no reason for them to oppose such common-sense jobs measures. With Americans in Nevada and around the country looking to their elected officials for results, putting Americans back to work should be our top priority, not Tea Party politics or partisan maneuvering.”

Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid issued the following statement after the Senate and House approved a bipartisan bill that reauthorizes the National Flood Insurance Program, prevents college student loan interest rates from doubling and creates or saves nearly three million jobs. The bill passed the Senate by a vote of 74-19.

“This legislation proves that when Republicans decide to work with Democrats, we can do a lot to move our economy forward. Thanks to this bipartisan agreement, seven million college students will not see their education costs rise by a thousand dollars next year. Because of this compromise, millions of workers in the transportation and construction industries know that their jobs will not disappear.

“In the coming weeks, we should remain focused on legislation that creates jobs and helps our economic recovery. Wasting precious time fighting old legislative battles does not create jobs. I hope this bipartisan cooperation will continue as we move forward with a tax cut for small business owners that will spur job creation and boost the middle class.” ]]> http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/06/29/reid-statement-on-student-loans-and-transportation-bill-compromise/feed/ 0 http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/06/29/reid-supreme-court%e2%80%99s-decision-a-true-victory-for-the-american-people/ http://democrats.senate.gov/2012/06/29/reid-supreme-court%e2%80%99s-decision-a-true-victory-for-the-american-people/#comments Fri, 29 Jun 2012 15:41:19 +0000 ian http://democrats.senate.gov/?p=109949

Congress Can’t Afford To Waste Time Refighting Old Battles And Should Renew Focus On Creating Jobs

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the Supreme Court’s decision on the Affordable Care Act and Congress’ plan to refocus on creating jobs for the American people. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Yesterday the United States Supreme Court reaffirmed that no family should live one illness or accident away from bankruptcy.

The Court’s decision isn’t a victory for Democrats or for President Obama – it’s a true victory for the American people.

Let me give you a few reasons why.

Since President Obama signed the Affordable Care Act into law, more than 6 million young people have signed up for their parents’ health plans.

Because children can now stay on their parents’ insurance until they’re 26, no young person will have to defer his or her dreams to take a job that offers insurance.

Since health reform took effect, 5 million seniors have already saved about $600 each on prescription drugs. Millions more have gotten free wellness checks and cancer screenings.

That means millions of seniors have more money in their pockets for food, gas and the electric bill.

And, hundreds of thousands of businesses that already offer their employees health insurance are getting tax credits for doing the right thing.

Since Congress passed this law, insurance companies can no longer put profits ahead of people.

They can no longer discriminate against children with preexisting conditions.

They can no longer raise your rates for no reason.

They can no longer drop your coverage if you get sick.

Millions of Americans are already seeing the benefits of this law.

And soon, 30 million more who can’t afford health insurance will have access to reasonably priced insurance and quality care.

Here’s how it works. Each state will set up its own health insurance marketplace, called an exchange, which will offer a menu of private insurance plans from which people can choose.

Once these exchanges are in place, insurance companies will no longer be able to discriminate against any American with a preexisting health condition.

They won’t be able to deny you insurance because you’re sick.

They won’t be able to charge you more just because you’re a woman or because you don’t already have insurance.

And if you can’t afford the premiums, you’ll get a tax credit to help pay them.

But what if you’re one of the 250 million Americans who already has insurance? Nothing will change.

Nothing will change except that you’ll no longer have to worry that if you lose your job, you’ll lose your insurance.

Nothing will change except that if you get cancer or have a stroke, your insurance company won’t be allowed to deny life-saving care because you reach some arbitrary lifetime cap.

Nothing will change except that your checkups and preventive care will be free – a provision that’s already helped 54 million Americans with private insurance.

You’ll be able to keep your plan and keep your doctor. But now you – not the insurance company – will be in control.

And by August, almost 13 million people will get a rebate check from their insurance company because it spent too much on administrative costs and not enough on health care.

The Affordable Care Act is already helping millions of Americans – seniors on Medicare, children with heart conditions, students following their dreams.

And in the coming months many millions more will benefit from this law.

That’s doesn’t mean the law is perfect. Democrats have already shown we’re willing to work with Republicans to improve it.

But now that the Supreme Court has spoken, it’s time to renew our focus on the most pressing challenge facing this nation: the high unemployment rate.

Too many Americans are still struggling. And Congress can’t afford to waste time refighting old battles.

Now we need to work together to put Americans back to work.

Thanks to cooperation on both sides, I am glad to say the Senate will vote today on the transportation jobs bill conference report.

This package also includes an extension of student loan rates and flood insurance legislation.

Passing these three very important job-creating measures is a real accomplishment for Congress.

Extending the flood insurance program will allow millions of home closings to go forward at a time when our real estate market is just beginning to rebound.

Preventing interest rates from doubling on 7 million students was a major priority for Democrats and for President Obama.

And passing the two-year transportation bill will create or save 2.8 million American jobs – many of them in the hard-hit construction industry.

It will also restore millions of miles of crumbling roadways, railways and bridges.

This has been an incredibly productive week. And it tops off a fruitful session.

This month we passed a bipartisan farm bill that will give certainty to an agriculture industry that supports 16 million jobs.

I am optimistic the Senate will maintain a spirit of collaboration during the next work period, when we will consider a number of other job-creation measures.

I hope all my colleagues have a constructive week in their home states, and a safe and happy Fourth of July.

And I hope they come back rested and ready to work on in July, because we have a lot to get done next month to ensure this country’s economic future.

I look forward to taking on that challenge together.

The report, entitled “Winners and Losers: Understanding the Ryan Plan’s Potential Tax Implications for America’s Workers,” analyzes the impact on families of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan’s proposal to replace the current progressive tax code with just two tax brackets – 10 percent and 25 percent – while eliminating the alternative minimum tax.

The report finds that the top 0.1 percent of households would receive an estimated average federal tax cut of nearly $1.18 million in 2015 under the Ryan plan, corresponding to a 14.1 percentage point drop in the federal tax rate.  Lower-income earners (the bottom quintile) would see the slightest tax savings of only $67 and would enjoy just a 0.06 percentage point drop in their federal tax rate.

To pay for the tax cuts, the JEC report finds, Ryan would potentially have to eliminate tax expenditures that deliver significant tax benefits to middle-class workers.  These include tax deductions for mortgage interest, state and local taxes, and charitable contributions as well as the tax exclusions for employer-sponsored health insurance benefits and contributions to 401(k) plans.

After eliminating these tax expenditures, those at the top of the income ladder would still experience a net reduction in taxes – the typical household making more than $1 million will see their taxes fall by more than $286,000 under Ryan’s budget.  However, eliminating these tax expenditures would increase the tax burden facing middle-class workers:  a household making between $50,000 and $100,000 would face a tax increase of at least $1,358.

“We’ve seen this movie before and it doesn’t end well,” said JEC Chairman Casey.  “The Ryan plan doles out tax cuts for the wealthy and asks the middle class to pick up the bill.  This new JEC report makes clear that the middle class will be hit hard by the Ryan proposal.   To pay for his tax cuts, Chairman Ryan has no choice but to eliminate or drastically reduce tax benefits that help middle-class families meet their health care needs, pay for their homes, and save for their retirement.    This is the wrong approach.  As we recover from the Great Recession, our focus must be on creating jobs and helping middle-class families – not giving the wealthiest few more tax breaks.”

Last week, in a moment of candor, House Republicans admitted they’ve given up on legislating until after the election.

Although there’s plenty more work to be done – especially building on 27 straight months of private-sector job growth – Republicans are lurching from one recess to another.

Last week’s unscripted moment was a window into today’s Republican Party – a party that cares more about winning elections than creating jobs.

Then this week we got another frank assessment of the Republican agenda from inside looking out.

Former Governor Jeb Bush admitted Monday that his father, George H. W. Bush, and Ronald Reagan would have had a hard time fitting in with today’s Republican Party.

He said today’s GOP is defined by “an orthodoxy that doesn’t allow for disagreement.”

Governor Bush is right. The Republican Party no longer has room for moderates – or anyone unwilling to march in lock step with the radical Tea Party.

That’s apparent every day on Capitol Hill.

It was obvious from the first weeks of this Congress that the House had been taken over by extremists with no desire work together for the sake of the economy and no concept of the meaning of compromise.

But over the last year and a half it has become clear that Republicans in the Senate are also in thrall to the Tea Party.

We see that extremism in this Chamber – where Republicans have blocked or stalled every job creation measure Democrats have brought to the Senate floor.

And we see it on the campaign trail – where Mitt Romney told a crowd he opposes hiring more teachers, firefighters and police officers.

Putting more teachers in the classroom used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.

Sending more cops out on patrol used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.

Hiring more brave men and women to fight fires and save lives used to be a goal Democrats and Republicans could agree on.

But today’s radical Republicans have another agenda: drag down the economy because it’s good for Republican politics.

Yesterday, Governor Bush said his father and President Reagan – neither of whom could win a Republican primary today – both “sacrificed political points for good public policy.” He’s right.

Ronald Reagan would not have put up with what’s going on in the Republican Party today. For him, country came first, not elections.

George H. W. Bush would not have put up with what’s going on in the Republican Party today. He was a pragmatist, not an ideologue. And while he was a conservative Republican, you could work with him.

But today’s Republicans aren’t interested in passing good policy.

And they aren’t interested in creating jobs.

They’re too obsessed with defeating President Obama.

That’s their number one goal. But don’t take my word for it. The Minority Leader said so himself.

This is what he said: “The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term President.”

America is battling its way back from the greatest recession since the Great Depression.

And although we have created 4.3 million private sector jobs, there’s more work to do.

But Republicans aren’t focused on jobs – they’ve been too busy checking the political scoreboard.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican obstructionism and Majority Leader Cantor’s admission that Republicans are done legislating this Congress. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Last Congress was one of the most productive – if not the most productive – in the history of the country.

But with a new Republican majority in the House, this Congress has been altogether different.

Consistently, this Congress has taken weeks or months to pass even simple, common-sense proposals – proposals that would previously have passed in minutes.

The Senate has wasted literally months considering bipartisan bills, only to have those bills smothered to death under piles of non-relevant, Republican amendments.

And Congressional Republicans have held even the most important jobs measures hostage to extract votes on unrelated, ideological amendments – despite the Minority Leader’s own call “to stop all the show votes.” Those were his words.

Democrats – and the American people – have endured this blatant obstruction all year.

And yesterday we read that we will have to endure it every day for the rest of the year – every day for the rest of this Congress.

House Republican Leaders admit they have given up on actually running the country.

Despite the work that remains to keep our economy on the right track and continue 27 months of private sector job growth, they say they’re done legislating for the year.

Listen to this report from the political publication Politico yesterday: “Serious legislating is all but done until after the election… The rest of the year, Cantor said, will likely be about sending ‘signals…’”

So, rather than work with Democrats to strengthen our economy or create jobs, Congressional Republicans will put on a show designed to demonstrate the extreme, ideological direction in which they would lead the country.

Majority Leader Cantor’s candor is frightening.

He said out loud what practically every Republican on Capitol Hill has been thinking all along: they care more about winning elections than creating jobs.

But you don’t usually hear them say so in public, where reporters are listening.

Instead, one short month ago, Speaker Boehner urged Congress to “roll up our sleeves and get to work.”

To a conservatives audience, the Speaker said “we can’t wait” until after the election to legislate.

Less than a week later, Leader McConnell urged us to “stop the show votes that are designed to fail. Let’s stop with the blame games. Let’s come together and do what the American people expect us to do.”

Speaker Boehner and Leader McConnell’s statements are Orwellian – they do exactly the opposite of what they say.

Even Republican Senator Olympia Snowe – by all accounts a moderate, who is retiring amid frustration over increasing partisanship in Washington – wrote to me in April to urge quick Senate action on many of the challenging issues facing us.

Her letter cried out for help – not from Democrats, but from Republicans.

Leader Cantor’s remarks provide a window into the true Republican agenda.

It seems when Congressional Republicans forget the world is watching, they say what they really mean – they’re more interested in putting on a partisan sideshow than in solving the very real problems facing this nation.

In truth, this comes as no surprise. It’s just more of the same.

Republicans have launched a series of attacks on women’s access to health care and contraception, and filibustered legislation to ensure American women equal pay for equal work.

They’ve put women’s lives at risk by holding the Violence Against Women Act in limbo.

They opposed our efforts to restore fairness to the tax code and to ensure billionaires don’t pay lower tax rates than middle-class families.

They blocked a bill to hire more teachers, cops, firefighters and first responders.

And they stalled important jobs measures like the aviation jobs bill and the transportation jobs bill for months to pursue ideological battles.

For months Congressional Republicans have actively worked against any piece of legislation that might create jobs or spur economic growth.

Don’t take my word for it – just look at their record.

Democrats have known all along that Congressional Republicans’ number one goal isn’t to improve the economy or create jobs – it’s to defeat President Obama.

The Minority Leader, said so plainly, in another moment of candor.

“The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term President.”

Senator McConnell said that in October, 2010 – at a time when this nation faced monumental challenges.

We were fighting our way back from the greatest recession since the Great Depression.

Yet Republicans’ top priority wasn’t to create jobs.

Their top priority wasn’t to help business grow and hire.

It wasn’t to train the next generation of skilled employees, hire more cops and firefighters or put construction crews back to work building roads and bridges.

It was to drag down the economy in the hopes of defeating President Obama.

And thanks to Leader Cantor’s words, today we know Republicans’ priorities haven’t changed one bit.

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the Paycheck Fairness Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Most Americans believe if they get an education, work hard and play by the rules, they’ll have a fair shot at success.

But for millions of American women, no amount of talent or dedication will bring pay equality with their male coworkers.

Women take home 77 cents for every dollar their male colleagues earn for doing exactly the same work.

That stunning fact holds true regardless of whether a woman has a college degree, regardless of how many hours she spends at the office or factory each week and regardless of what job she holds.

If she is an African American or Hispanic woman, the disparity is even starker.

African American women make 62 cents on the dollar and Hispanic women 54 cents on the dollar compared to white men working the same hours in the same jobs.

And while landmark pieces of legislation like the Equal Pay Act and the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act have narrowed the pay gap, they haven’t closed that gap.

So Congress must do more. The Paycheck Fairness Act before the Senate would:

• Give workers stronger tools to combat wage discrimination,
• Bar retaliation against workers for discussing salary information,
• And help secure adequate compensation for victims of gender-based pay discrimination

Over their lifetimes, Nevada women will earn about $475,000 less than their male counterparts.

But this isn’t just a women’s issue – it’s a family issue.

Every year, millions of American families are cheated out of money they could spend on groceries, gas and rent.

And every year, wage discrimination puts almost 400,000 Nevada children at risk.

For many families in Nevada and across the country, a woman’s income is the only income. For many more families, a woman is the primary breadwinner.

Yet Republicans have vowed to block legislation that would even the playing field and help women provide for their families – even though Americans overwhelmingly support it.

Nine out of 10 Americans – including 81 percent of men and 77 percent of Republicans – support pay equity legislation.

Once again, the only Republicans who are against our common-sense measure are the ones here in Washington.

Even Mitt Romney has refused to publicly oppose this legislation.

He should show some leadership, and tell his fellow Republicans that opposing fair pay for all Americans is shameful.

Instead, no one knows where he stands.

But we know where Democrats stand.

We stand firmly on the side of equality for every working woman.

Democrats stand with middle-class women working to keep their families afloat during difficult economic times.

We stand with young women pursuing a college education, hoping to get a good-paying job when they graduate.

We stand with little girls whose mothers have taught them there’s no limit to their dreams.

This evening, America will see where Republican Senators stand, as well.

It’s unfortunate they’ll once again favor obstructionism over equality.

In All but One State, Wage Disparity is in Double Digits; Places a Heavy Burden on Women Who Are Their Families’ Primary Wage Earners

Paycheck Fairness Act Set To Receive Key Vote in Senate Tomorrow

Washington, DC – The Democratic Policy and Communications Center (DPCC) today released new state-by-state reports detailing the drastic wage gap women in every state experience in the workplace.  The report shows that in nearly half of all states, women earn over one-fifth less than their male counterparts.  In some states, that figure is as high as one-third.

The report highlights the devastating ramifications for middle-class American families.  On average, women’s share of family income is 42.1%—eliminating the wage gap, therefore, provide a much-needed boost to household earnings throughout the country.  For families in which women are the primary wage earners, the gap creates a heavy burden: Nearly 40% of married employed mothers are their families primary provider. In families headed by single mothers or families in which the husband cannot work due to a disability, children ultimately lose out simply because they rely on their mothers’ incomes for financial support.

State-by-state fact sheets can be found below.

Report Highlights:

• Nationally, women earn significantly less than what their male counterparts do, with that gap ranging as high as 30% in some states.
• In every state except for California, the wage gap is in double digits.
• 38% of married employed mothers are their families’ primary provider, meaning the pay gap jeopardizes the children who rely on them for support.

The Paycheck Fairness Act, introduced by Senator Mikulski (D-MD), would provide women with the tools to close this pernicious, long-standing gap.  The Senate is set to vote on cloture for the legislation tomorrow.  The Senate previously voted on the Paycheck Fairness Act on November 17^th, 2010.

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Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding the Paycheck Fairness Act. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

When Congress passed the Equal Pay Act in 1963, women working full time, year round took home 59 cents for every dollar paid to their male coworkers.

And while passage of that landmark legislation helped narrow the pay gap, today American women still take home only 77 cents on the dollar compared to their male colleagues.

It’s simply not fair that any woman working the same hours in the same job should make less money.

Often this inequity stretches over decades. And many women don’t even know they are victims.

It took one Las Vegas woman 15 years to find out she made $20,000 per year less than her male colleagues, although she worked just as hard.

She was paid about 66 cents on the dollar compared to her male coworkers, despite being a top sales associate with a Las Vegas payroll company.

And over the decade and a half she worked there, her employers cheated her out of literally hundreds of thousands of dollars in pay – simply because she was a woman.

Her story has a happy ending. She got a lawyer. She settled out of court. And she went on to found her own successful business.

But many victims of years or even decades of gender-based pay discrimination aren’t so fortunate.

The average woman who works full time, year-round in Nevada makes $7,300 less than a man doing the same job.

Although the wage gap has narrowed in the half century since Congress declared women entitled to equal pay for equal work, gender discrimination remains a serious problem in the workplace.

That’s why Democrats overcame Republican obstructionism last Congress to pass the Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act. This law makes it possible for victims of gender discrimination to successfully challenge unequal pay – even if the discrimination has been going on for years.

But despite that achievement, there is still a great deal of work to be done to ensure American women earn comparable pay for a day’s work.

So it’s crucial we pass the Paycheck Fairness Act, a commonsense bill that would:

• Give workers stronger tools to combat wage discrimination
• Bar retaliation against workers for discussing salary information
• And help ensure more adequate compensation for victims of gender-based pay discrimination.

Today women make up nearly half of the workforce, and an increasing number of women are the primary wage earners for their families.

So this problem affects women, children and families across the country.

With the economy struggling and families stretching every dollar, closing the pay gap is more important than ever.

No woman working to support herself or her family should be paid less than her male counterparts.

Yet Republicans are filibustering the Paycheck Fairness Act – legislation that would help even the playing field for women in the workforce.

If it seems unbelievable that Republicans would block such a common-sense measure, consider their track record this Congress.

Republicans blocked legislation to hire more teachers, cops, firefighters and first responders.

They stalled important jobs measures like the aviation jobs bill and the transportation jobs bill for months to pursue ideological battles.

They opposed legislation to restore basic fairness to our tax code.

They’ve twice derailed attempts to stop interest rates on student loan from doubling, putting an affordable education at risk for 7 million students.

They’ve put women’s lives at risk by holding the Violence Against Women Act in limbo over a hyper-technical issue.

And they’ve launched a series of attacks on women’s access to health care and contraception.

They’ve amassed an impressive record of obstruction – and of being on the wrong side of almost every issue.

Unfortunately, it seems Paycheck Fairness may have two strikes against it – it would good for women and good for the economy, so Republicans are determined to oppose it.

It appears Republicans will wind up on the wrong side of this issue as well – sending the message to little girls across the country that their work is less valuable because they happened to be born female.

“We could avoid the so-called fiscal cliff tomorrow if Republicans would agree to extend the middle class tax cuts, which would provide certainty to millions of families and give us ample time to deal with the other challenges facing Congress at the end of the year.

“If Republicans want to walk away from the bipartisan spending cuts agreed to last August, they will have to work with Democrats to replace them with a balanced deficit reduction package that asks millionaires to pay their fair share.”

It’s almost universally acknowledged that Republican obstructionism has reached new heights in the Senate.

Democrats would have to break a filibuster to declare the sky blue or the Earth round.

And passing even the most common-sense, consensus legislation can take weeks or months. So, with a mile-long to-do list, we can’t afford to waste time.

Yet today Republicans will force the Senate to waste a day on a series of political show votes.

We’ll spend hours debating and voting on a handful of non-binding budget resolutions – even though we already have a legally-binding budget.

The Senate could spend the day passing tax cuts for small businesses that grow and hire or legislation to keep the FDA running.

We could be considering the Paycheck Fairness Act – ensuring American women receive equal pay for equal work.

We could be debating cyber security legislation, working on a farm bill or protecting 7 million students from rate hikes on their federal loans.

We could even move a series of appropriations bills to implement the budget we’ve already enacted.

Instead we’ll debate and vote on a series of stunt budgets.

Republicans aren’t interested in getting anything done this year – they’re more interested in trying to defeat President Obama. So they don’t mind wasting a day of the Senate’s time on useless political show votes.

Republicans will say over and over they’re only forcing votes on four budgets today because Democrats failed to pass our own budget. That couldn’t be further from the truth.

In August, Congress passed and President Obama signed a budget that reduces the deficit by more than $2 trillion – the Budget Control Act.

Twenty-eight Senate Republicans – including my friend, the Minority Leader – voted for that legally-binding budget.

But since August those Republicans have developed a case of amnesia. Why else would they walk around Washington claiming we don’t have a budget?

And unlike the hollow Republican budget resolutions the Senate will waste the day debating, the Budget Control Act actually has the force of law.

If Republicans were serious about reducing the deficit, they wouldn’t be working so hard to undo that August law, which cuts more than $2 trillion from the deficit.

Democrats agree the across-the-board cuts to domestic spending and defense programs – agreed to in the Budget Control Act – aren’t the ideal way to solve our nation’s fiscal problems.

But the cuts were designed to be tough so lawmakers were forced to reach to a balanced deal.

Unfortunately, Republicans refused to be reasonable. They refused to raise even a penny of new revenue, or ask millionaires to contribute their fair share to help reduce our deficit.

And Democrats won’t agree to a one-sided solution that lets the super-wealthy off the hook while forcing the middle class to bear all the hardship.

These four stunt budgets all take that one-sided approach, which protects wealthy special interests at the expense of ordinary Americans.

And they clearly illuminate Republicans’ priorities – to shower the wealthy with tax breaks paid for by the middle class.

All four of the Republican plans cut investments that help middle class families get back on their feet in order to increase tax breaks for businesses that ship jobs overseas.

All four plans would double the student loan interest rate – putting college out of reach for many students – in order to protect tax loopholes for special interests.

All four plans end Medicare as we know it, gutting seniors’ health benefits to lavish more tax breaks on millionaires and billionaires.

Yesterday the Senate showed it’s possible to advance policies that improve our economy and put Americans back to work – as long as Democrats and Republicans work together.

On an overwhelming, bipartisan vote, we passed an Export-Import Bank reauthorization that will support hundreds of thousands of jobs and help American companies sell their products overseas.

But every moment we waste refighting old battles or revisiting Republicans’ failed economic policies is time that could be better spent creating jobs.

The time for show votes is over. Now it’s time for the Senate to get back to work putting Americans back to work.

I am pleased Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement to move forward with reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank.

The Bank helps American companies sell their products overseas and hire workers here at home.

It helped private companies add almost 300,000 jobs in more than 2,000 American communities last year.

That’s why labor groups, manufacturers and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce have urged the Senate to move quickly to reauthorize the Bank, which expires at the end of the month.

The second ranking officer at the Chamber of Commerce wrote this to Senators yesterday:

“Failure to enact this legislation would put at risk… American jobs at 3,600 companies that depend on Ex-Im to compete in global markets… Because other countries are providing their own exporters with an estimated $1 trillion in export finance – often on terms more generous than Ex-Im can provide – failure to reauthorize Ex-Im would amount to unilateral disarmament and cost tens of thousands of American jobs. China, for instance, has three export credit agencies that last year provided $300 billion in export finance to its exporters – 10 times more than Ex-Im provided. This bill would help level the financial playing field in export markets and ensure transparency in Ex-Im’s operations.”

This legislation helps American businesses export their products instead of exporting jobs.

Reauthorizing of the Export-Import Bank is the kind of consensus proposal that shouldn’t result in a partisan fight.

And I am hopeful the Senate will pass it overwhelmingly – signaling to American businesses that Congress will do what it takes to help them compete in a global market.

But while Republicans say publicly that they support this important measure, they have insisted on votes on a number of amendments that would gut or even kill the bill.

The Chamber of Commerce will consider votes on this measure – and on any amendments that would weaken the Bank – to be keys to determining whether Senators are business-friendly.

The extreme amendments offered by my Republican colleagues would certainly weaken the Bank. One would eliminate it altogether.

The Chamber was clear these kinds of amendments are unacceptable to the business community.

The National Association of Manufacturers issued a similar warning Monday.

Democrats agree. We cannot afford to give an inch to our global competitors.

Canada, France and India already provide seven times the assistance to their exporters that America does. China and Brazil provide ten times the support.

So Senate Republicans are faced with a choice.

They can continue to support extreme amendments that would effectively kill the Export-Import Bank, and risk the wrath of the American business community.

Or they can work with Democrats to reauthorize the Bank – without adding amendments that would undermine its ability to help businesses grow.

I’m optimistic my Republican colleagues will make the right choice.

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.

Fundamentally Skewed Priorities in Republican Budget Would Hand More Tax Breaks to Wealthy at Expense of Middle-Class Families

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid spoke on the Senate floor today regarding Republican attempts to go back on an August budget agreement in order to protect multi-millionaires and corporate defense contractors at the expense of ordinary Americans. Below are his remarks as prepared for delivery:

Yesterday Republicans continued to filibuster Democrats’ plan to protect 7 million students from skyrocketing interest rates on federal student loans.

What’s worse, they seem proud of it. Not a single Republican voted to allow the debate on this bill to go forward.

But this fight is not over. Democrats have not given up efforts to keep college affordable for almost 30,000 Nevadans and more than 7 million students nationwide.

I hope Republicans will come to their senses, and work with us toward a compromise.

As Democrats work to create jobs and make college affordable, our colleagues on the other side of the aisle are operating under a different set of priorities.

In the House, Republican efforts are underway to undo a hard-fought August agreement to cut more than 2 trillion from the deficit over the next decade.

But the Republican budget and their so-called reconciliation bill don’t just renege on that bipartisan, bicameral agreement to reduce spending.

They reflect fundamentally skewed priorities. They hand out even more tax breaks to multi-millionaires and shield corporate defense contractors, all at the expense of hard-working, middle-class families, the elderly and those in greatest need.

They would slash investments that strengthen our economy and shred the social safety net.

President Dwight Eisenhower once said: “Every gun that is made, every warship launched, every rocket fired, signifies in the final sense a theft from those who hunger and are not fed, those who are cold and are not clothed.”

In a balanced world – one where a strong national defense and a strong social safety net are both valuable pillars of a successful society – that need not necessarily be true.

But the Republican plan would enshrine into law a set of truly unbalanced priorities – and ensure the kind of terrible math Eisenhower envisioned.

Unlike defense contractors and billionaires, ordinary Americans don’t have high-priced lobbyists to protect them. That’s our job.

But Republicans are going after those who can’t fight back – hard-working Americans and struggling families.

Let’s review a bit of history. The sequester isn’t the first bipartisan agreement to reduce the deficit.

Over the years there have been many efforts to reach comprehensive, bipartisan solutions to our deficit.

There was the Fiscal Commission, Bowles-Simpson, the Gang of Six and the Supercommittee. They all failed.

Although President Obama was willing to make difficult concessions to achieve meaningful deficit reduction, Republicans and Speaker Boehner could never go against Grover Norquist.

This is a Grover Norquist Congress.

So we’re left with the threat of almost $500 billion in cuts to domestic programs and almost $500 billion in cuts to defense programs.

Democrats agree the sequester – which includes across the board cuts both to domestic spending and the defense budget – is far from the ideal way to solve our nation’s fiscal problems.

It’s a tough pill to swallow. But that was the point.

Those cuts were designed to be tough enough to force lawmakers to compromise.  They were designed to be tough enough to force the two sides to reach to a balanced deal.

But Republicans refused to be reasonable. They refused to raise even a penny of new revenue, or ask millionaires to contribute their fair share to help reduce our deficit and our debt.

I’d like to read a short excerpt from a piece by Thomas Mann and Norman Ornstein from the Washington Post.

They eloquently describe the GOP’s unwillingness to compromise here:

“We have been studying Washington politics and Congress for more than 40 years, and never have we seen them this dysfunctional. In our past writings, we have criticized both parties when we believed it was warranted. Today, however, we have no choice but to acknowledge that the core of the problem lies with the Republican Party.”

They went on to say:

“The GOP has become an insurgent outlier in American politics. It is ideologically extreme; scornful of compromise; unmoved by conventional understanding of facts, evidence and science; and dismissive of the legitimacy of its political opposition.”

Republicans insisted on balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, seniors, students, single mothers and so many others who could least afford it.

And it is their intransigence – their refusal to compromise – that leaves us facing the threat of the sequester, and its difficult but balanced cuts.

Going back on the August budget agreement now in order to protect wealthy special interests is no solution.

Neither is refighting the battles of last year.

Democrats agree we must reduce our deficit and make hard choices.

But we believe in a balanced approach that shares the pain as well as the responsibility.

Is the sequester the best way to achieve that balance? Absolutely not.

But Republicans refuse to consider a more reasonable approach – one that asks every American to pay his fair share while making difficult choices to reduce spending.

And Democrats won’t agree to a one-sided solution that lets the super-wealthy off the hook while forcing the middle class, and those in greatest need, to bear all the hardship.

Democrats believe we can protect Americans’ access to health care, create jobs while investing in the future and protect the poor and elderly.

And we can do all that while reducing the deficit in a responsible, even-handed way.

But we can’t do it alone. It will take hard work and compromise.

And so far Republicans have been unwilling to make a serious effort to achieve that compromise.

Republicans have rejected our balanced approach. Their one-sided solution to across-the-board cuts would take from the many to give to the few.

So, here’s what their plan would do:

• Cut Medicaid benefits, increasing the number of uninsured children, parents, seniors and people with disabilities by 300,000. It would also put seniors in nursing homes at risk.
• Punish Americans who receive tax credits to purchase health insurance when their financial circumstances change – causing 350,000 Americans to forgo coverage.
• Weaken Wall Street reforms, protecting big banks at the expense of consumers.
• Once again target middle-class workers, including food inspectors, air traffic controllers and border patrol, drug enforcement and FBI agents.
• Cut funding for preventive health care programs that fight chronic illnesses – such as heart disease, cancer, stroke and diabetes – that cause 70 percent of deaths in America.
• Slash Block Grant funding that allows states to help 23 million children, seniors and disabled Americans live independently and out of poverty.

No segment of the population is immune from the pain of this Republican plan – except maybe millionaires, billionaires and wealthy corporations.

The Republican proposal cuts Meals on Wheels for seniors.

It reduces food assistance for 1.8 million needy people.

And it cuts off 280,000 kids from free school lunches at a time when one in five children lives in poverty.

That’s why the U.S. Conference of Catholic of Bishops said the Republican plan fails a “basic moral test.”

This budget sets very clear priorities. The problem is, they’re the wrong priorities.

President Franklin Roosevelt once said, “Human kindness has never weakened the stamina or softened the fiber of a free people. A nation does not have to be cruel to be tough.”

Republicans would do well to remember our nation is judged not only by the strength of its military, but also by the strength of its values.

“Sequestration is a tough pill to swallow. But that was the point. Those cuts were designed to be tough enough to force lawmakers to compromise. They were designed to be tough enough to force the two sides to reach a balanced deal.

“But Republicans refused to be reasonable. They refused to raise even a penny of new revenue, or ask millionaires to contribute their fair share to help reduce our deficit and our debt. Republicans insisted on balancing the budget on the backs of the middle class, seniors, students, single mothers and so many others who could least afford it. And it is their intransigence – their refusal to compromise – that leaves us facing the threat of the sequester, and its difficult but balanced cuts.

“Democrats agree we must reduce our deficit and make hard choices. But we believe in a balanced approach that shares the pain as well as the responsibility.”

“The priorities President Obama outlined today would strengthen our economic recovery and create jobs. Senate Democrats will act on these common-sense, job-creating proposals, and I hope Republicans will join us instead of continuing to obstruct every solution proposed by the President.

“One of the items the President advanced is a tax cut to spur small business hiring that I introduced with Senators Casey, Landrieu and others. I will move to consider this proposal in the coming days. The legislation provides tax credits to small businesses that increase their payrolls and faster write-offs for those that invest in new equipment. It is difficult to see why anyone who wants to see job creation accelerate would oppose this proposal.

“Since President Obama was sworn in, Republicans have done nothing but block our economic recovery, protect wealthy, special interests and make life harder for the middle class. The proposals President Obama outlined today provide Republicans with an opportunity to change course, and put our economy ahead of partisan politics.”

“Today’s figures show that while the unemployment rate continues to fall, too many Americans in Nevada and throughout our nation are still struggling to find work. Creating jobs must remain Congress’ top priority.

“Unfortunately, Republicans are currently obstructing a number of common-sense, bipartisan policies that would create and protect millions of American jobs. The House is sitting on bipartisan bills to save three million transportation jobs, and modernize the postal industry. There is no reason why we should not pass these common-sense jobs bills without delay – no reason except for Republican obstruction.”

America has the best, brightest and most dedicated workers in the world. All those workers need is a fair shot to succeed.

But right now many workers in this country don’t enjoy the same rights as the wealthy CEOs they work for – to negotiate the terms of their employment.

A new rule from the National Labor Relationship Board will remove unnecessary obstacles to workers’ rights to form a union if they choose.

I solidly support this rule. And I urge all my colleagues to vote tomorrow against the resolution of disapproval that would strike down this common-sense rule.

The new rule doesn’t encourage unions, but it doesn’t discourage them either. It just gives workers the ability to vote yes or no, while minimizing the chances of intimidation.

Tomorrow the Senate will also vote on a number of amendments to a bipartisan postal reform bill.

This important piece of legislation will safeguard more than 8 million jobs that depend on a vibrant postal system.

It will also protect postal customers – particularly elderly and disabled Americans, and people who live in rural parts of the country.

I am pleased we reached an agreement to allow Senators to offer relevant amendments to this bill.

And I hope once we work through those amendments tomorrow we will see a strong, bipartisan vote to modernize the post office and save this important institution from insolvency.

Once we pass postal reform tomorrow, as I expect we will, the Senate will move on to consideration of another very important piece of legislation: reauthorization of the Violence Against Women Act.

Since its passage in 1994, the Violence Against Women Act has reduced the annual incidence of domestic violence by more than 50 percent.

Despite that incredible progress, we still have work to do to keep women and families safe.

Three women die in this country every day at the hands of abusive partners. And for every victim who is killed, there are nine more who narrowly escape death.

It would be unacceptable to step back from our national commitment to stop violence and abuse now.

VAWA was unanimously reauthorized by the Senate in 2000 and 2005. This effort should be – and traditionally has been – above partisanship. I hope that proves to be the case again in 2012.

This year it has 60 cosponsors and the support of 47 state attorneys general. I can’t imagine why my Republican colleagues would oppose such a worthy piece of legislation.

By joining Democrats to pass this legislation, Republicans can help us send a clear message that this country does not tolerate domestic violence of any kind.

If the Senate does not complete work on this critical legislation before we recess for the state work period, we will continue efforts to pass this measure after the break.

But the Violence Against Women Act isn’t the only pressing matter the Senate has to complete next work period.

We must begin work on a number of appropriations bills, consider additional judicial nominations, advance a cybersecurity bill and take up legislation to cut taxes for small businesses that expand and hire.

And we must address a looming crisis for millions of students in America: the July 1 deadline for interest rates to double on federal student loans.

With middle-class families struggling and fewer students able to afford the rising cost of higher education, we cannot afford to put college out of reach for more promising young people.

Doubling interest rates from 3.4 percent to 6.8 percent – effectively socking 7.4 million students with $1,000-a-year in student loan costs – would do just that.

Today Americans have more student loan debt than credit card debt. The average graduate owes close to $25,000.

Getting a college education shouldn’t burden young people with unsustainable debt.

Unfortunately, many of my Republican colleagues have signaled they would rather cut taxes for the richest of the rich than invest in the next generation of American workers.

But the business community agrees making college affordable is key to keeping America competitive in a global economy. An investment in education is an investment in our economy.

I hope Republicans in the Senate will hear this message, and join Democrats to make that smart investment, and protect nearly 8 million students in this country when we take up this legislation next work period.

Yesterday Senate Republicans once again rejected the idea that millionaires and billionaires should contribute their fair share to help this country prosper.

Republicans sent a message to millions of honest, hard-working Americans who will file their taxes today: it’s fair for Warren Buffett to pay a lower tax rate than his secretary.

Republicans said it’s fair for Mitt Romney to pay a lower tax rate than his cleaning lady or his chauffer.

They believe it’s fair for hedge fund managers and executives to pay a lower tax rate than school teachers and waitresses and bus drivers.

That’s just crazy.

But that’s not my word for it. That’s what President Ronald Reagan called a system of “unproductive tax loopholes that allow some of the truly wealthy to avoid paying their fair share.”

In 1985, Ronald Reagan knocked the web of loopholes that allowed people making hundreds of millions of dollars each year to pay lower tax rates than construction workers or janitors. President Reagan called it “crazy.”

This broken system “made it possible for millionaires to pay nothing, while a bus driver was paying ten percent of his salary,” Reagan said.

But the same system is in place today. And, as that radical liberal Ronald Reagan said, “That’s just crazy.”

Yesterday my Republican colleagues used some strong words to oppose Democrats’ plan to right that inequality.

Republicans called our common-sense proposal to ensure no one making more than a $1 million a year pays a lower tax rate than a truck driver, a secretary or a police officer “class warfare.”

Republicans are pushing a budget that would end Medicare as we know it, slash nursing home coverage for the elderly, decimate Pell Grant funding and kick 200,000 kids out of the Head Start Program.

And they’re calling our proposal class warfare?

I wish that were the most ridiculous thing Republicans have said about our proposal to bring a measure of fairness to America’s tax system. Far from it.

One member of Senate Republican Leadership equated this measure to “shooting ourselves in the head.”

The Paying a Fair Share Act – also called the Buffettt Rule – would have ensured millionaires and billionaires paid at least as much as their secretaries, assistants and nannies.

Yet Republicans think asking those lucky millionaires and billionaires to contribute their fair share is just like shooting the country in the head.

Our legislation would have protected 99 percent of small business owners, and maintained deductions for charitable giving.

And it would have been a small but meaningful step to reduce our deficit at a time when every penny – or in this case, every billion – counts.

It doesn’t seem radical to me to ask Warren Buffett – who made almost $63 million in 2010 – to pay a higher tax rate than his secretary.

It didn’t seem radical to Ronald Reagan, either.

And it doesn’t seem radical to the three-quarters of Americans who support our legislation.

The wealthiest Americans take home a greater percentage of the nation’s income than at any time in nearly a century. Yet they enjoy the lowest tax rate in more than 50 years.

So it’s no surprise Americans believe millionaires should shoulder their fair share.

Even two-thirds of millionaires – and a majority of Republicans around the country – agree it’s time to fix a system rigged to favor of the richest of the rich.

Republicans in Congress are the only ones who aren’t on board.

If you need evidence that millionaires and billionaires can afford to contribute a little more, consider this fact: last year there were 7,000 people who made more than $1 million but didn’t pay a single penny in federal income taxes. Not one thin dime.

Thanks to Republicans, those lucky millionaires and billionaires can keep gaming the system, while middle-class workers keep picking up the tab.

As millions of Americans prepare to file income tax returns, the Senate will consider the basic fairness of our country’s tax system.

Today the wealthiest one percent takes home the highest share of the nation’s income since the roaring ‘20s.

But while their bank accounts have grown, their tax bills have shrunk.

The wealthiest Americans now pay the lowest tax rates in 50 years.

And this unfair system has turned the gap between the richest few and everyone else into a gulf.

Over the last few decades, a small number of Americans have seen their incomes skyrocket – by almost 300 percent.

But for the rest of Americans, wages have barely crept up. They haven’t kept pace with the price of a modest home, a good college and a secure retirement.

So times are tough for many middle-class families. But millionaires and billionaires aren’t sharing the pain – or the sacrifices.

Last year, there were 7,000 millionaires who didn’t pay a single penny in federal income taxes. Instead, ordinary Americans footed the bill – and that’s not fair.

In recent years, some Americans earning north of $110 million a year paid a lower tax rate than millions of middle-class families – and that’s not fair.

That’s how someone like my friend Warren Buffett winds up paying a lower tax rate than his secretary – which is just not fair.

When the richest few are making more than ever before, they can afford to shoulder their fair share of the burden to make this country prosper.

And they shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind tax loopholes that rig the system in their favor.

The Paying a Fair Share Act – also known as the Buffett Rule – would restore fairness to a system that has favored the interests of the wealthy for too long.

This legislation would ensure Americans who earn more than $1 million a year pay at least 30 percent of their income in taxes.

The bill would hold harmless nearly every small business in America – more than 99 percent of small businesses, in fact.

It would maintain the deduction for charitable giving.

And it would be a small but important step toward restoring fiscal responsibility as our nation makes difficult choices about where to spend and what to cut.

Three-quarters of Americans believe millionaires and billionaires should contribute more.

Two-thirds of millionaires say it’s time to even the playing field.

And outside the Beltway, even a majority of Republicans agree.

But Republicans in Congress would rather end Medicare as we know it and slash education funding than ask the richest of the rich to contribute even a penny more.

As Senate Democrats work to make our tax system fair for all Americans, Republicans in the House continue to pursue a budget that would hand more tax breaks to the wealthiest few.

At its heart, this important debate – and the Buffett Rule – is about setting priorities.

America can build a world-class education system that will prepare our children and grandchildren to compete in the industries of tomorrow.

We can honor our commitment to a generation of young men and women who put their lives on the line to serve and protect our freedom.

And we can ensure seniors who worked hard all their lives look forward to a secure retirement and quality, affordable healthcare.

Or we can keep protecting special tax breaks for the richest of the rich. We can’t do both.

We must make smart choices.

President Franklin Roosevelt once said, “In our personal ambitions we are individualists. But in our seeking for economic and political progress as a nation, we all go up or else all go down as one people.”

I hope my Republican colleagues will join Democrats this evening as we choose a path toward economic fairness that allows all Americans to rise together as one people.

Tens of thousands of bridges and millions of miles of roadways across the country are in a state of disrepair.

But, rather than putting Americans to work fixing those roads and bridges – and repairing crumbling train tracks, highways and sidewalks across the nation – House Republican leaders are pandering to the Tea Party.

As if putting the Tea Party ahead of efforts to repair our nation’s crumbling infrastructure wasn’t bad enough, House Republicans are risking 2.8 million jobs in the process.

I was disappointed to hear last week that House Republican leaders will pursue a three-month extension of the Highway Bill. They should be voting on the two-year transportation bill passed on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote by the Senate.

Their short-term Band-Aid bill is no solution. Communities and contractors need certainty – especially going into the summer construction season – that their projects won’t grind to a halt in three months because the House once again refuses to act.

The American people will know who to blame if chaos in the House Republican caucus costs us almost 3 million jobs. One week remains until thousands of projects around the country lock their gates and lay off their workers.

It is time for House Republican leaders to do the responsible thing: take up the Senate-passed transportation bill, which is strongly supported by Senate Republicans.

The American people are watching, and time is wasting.

While House Republicans are squandering precious time and risking American jobs, the Senate will move forward with a bill to repeal billions in subsidies to big oil companies.

Last year, Big Oil raked in $137 billion in profits – more than ever before – but still received billions in taxpayers-funded giveaways.

Even with domestic oil production at its highest level in almost a decade, prices at the pump are rising.

Oil companies are making money hand over fist. When the price of a gallon of gas goes up by a single penny, quarterly profits for the five major oil companies go up by $200 million.

Yet this country continues to give taxpayer dollars to some of the most profitable corporations in the world – corporations that don’t need our help. It’s time to end this careless corporate welfare.

The only real way to bring down prices at the pump is to reduce U.S. dependence on foreign oil. That will take additional responsible, domestic oil exploration anhgd smart investments in clean energy technology.

The Senate will vote this evening to advance the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies Act.

This legislation ends more than $2 billion a year in tax breaks for Big Oil. And it invests the savings in the clean energy industry, where it will grow our economy and create jobs.

Repealing wasteful subsidies won’t cause oil and gas prices to rise. But reducing America’s dependence on foreign oil will cause prices to fall.

I hope my Republican colleagues will join Senate Democrats and repeal subsidies for Big Oil. It is time we worked together to move this nation toward its clean energy future.

But if Republicans continue to stand up for oil companies making record profits, one thing will be obvious: Republicans care less about bringing down gas prices than about helping big oil companies that don’t need the help.

Congress should pass this legislation quickly, before another taxpayer dollar is spent on wasteful handouts to Big Oil.

The Senate must also move quickly to reform our postal system. And in the coming weeks the Senate must reauthorize of the Violence Against Women Act, pass additional job creation measures and take up a crucial cybersecurity bill.

The Pentagon says passing cybersecurity legislation is the single most important action Congress can take to improve national security. That’s why I will bring a bill to the floor very soon.

Bipartisan efforts to craft comprehensive cybersecurity legislation have been ongoing for several years, but the time to act is now.

It is time for Republican colleagues who have been involved in this effort from the start to sit down at the negotiating table and help us settle on a final approach. The next few weeks will set the path ahead.

Both parties agree this legislation is a priority. And Senators interested in getting involved should act now, before time runs out.

As always, I hope Democrats and Republicans will be able to work together to forge a path forward.

Summary of the Small Business Jobs and Tax Relief Act

1.     Creates an Incentive For Small Businesses to Add New Jobs This Year.  Although the economy is recovering from a severe economic recession, a tax credit designed to stimulate job creation and wage increases could help put more Americans back to work and provide tax relief targeted at America’s small businesses. This proposal would provide a 10 percent income tax credit on new payroll—through either hiring or increased wages—added in 2012. With a maximum increase in eligible wages of $5 million per employer and the amount of the credit capped at $500,000, the benefits of this tax credit will be targeted on America’s small businesses.

• CBO Deems It Effective Way to Spur Growth and Increase Hiring. The Congressional Budget Office has determined that proposals like this, which would reduce the cost to businesses of adding employees or increasing payroll, “would have the largest effects on output and employment per dollar…” compared to those that “affect businesses’ cash flow but would have little impact on their marginal incentives to hire…” [CBO, 11/15/2011]
• Leading Economists Support Tax Relief for New Payroll. Former Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System Alan Blinder has endorsed the idea as a job creator, proposing that “the basic idea is to offer firms that boost their payrolls a tax break. As one concrete example, companies might be offered a tax credit equal to 10% of the increase in their wage bills (over 2011 levels, say). No increase, no reward.” Other prominent economists who have endorsed the concept of increased payroll incentives include Paul Krugman and Mark Zandi. [Wall Street Journal, 7/12/2011; New York Times, 1/20/10; Moody’s, 9/9/2011]

2.     Extends 100-Percent Depreciation Deduction For Certain Property. Typically, businesses expenditures are tax deductible in the year in which they are made, except for major purchases (such as large equipment or buildings), which must be written off over many years. One hundred percent depreciation allows businesses to write off the entire cost of major purchases in the year they are made rather than depreciate those expenses over many years. By accelerating in time the recovery of investment costs through “bonus depreciation,” additional first-year deductions for new investment lower the after-tax costs of plants and equipment. This encourages new investment and promotes economic recovery. Senate Democrats propose extending 100 percent first-year depreciation for one year, effective for qualified property acquired and placed in service before January 1, 2013 (or January 1, 2014 for certain longer-lived and transportation property).

• Bonus Depreciation is a Bipartisan Approach to Growing the Economy. Bonus depreciation has traditionally garnered bipartisan support:
• The Job Creation and Worker Assistance Act of 2002 was introduced by House Republicans and passed the Senate by a vote of 85 – 9.  [Vote 44, 3/8/02]
• The Tax Relief, Unemployment Compensation Reauthorization and Job Creation Act of 2010 expanded bonus depreciation to 100 percent. The bill was passed in the Senate by a vote of 81 – 19. [Vote 276, 12/15/10]
• Last December, the House Republicans overwhelmingly voted for an extension of 100 percent bonus depreciation in H.R.3630. [Vote 923, 12/13/11]
• Bonus Depreciation is a Proven Way to Help Small Businesses Invest and Grow. According to the U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Tax Policy, extending bonus depreciation will provide a tax cut to over 2 million businesses. In addition, the analysis estimates that 100 percent expensing reduces small businesses average cost of capital across all investment by more than 75 percent. [U.S. Treasury Office of Tax Policy, 11/2010]
• Economists Consider Bonus Depreciation One of the Most Productive Ways to Boost GDP. There is substantial empirical evidence that accelerated depreciation boosts business investment. For example, an analysis by the Institute for Policy Innovation estimated that every $1 of tax cuts devoted to accelerated depreciation generates about $9 of GDP growth. [Institute for Policy Innovation, 10/10/2001]
• Businesses Add Jobs When They Make Capital Investments. Studies by economists across the political spectrum have found that earlier, less generous versions of bonus depreciation have created 2 to 3 hundred thousand jobs. [American Economic Review, 7/2008]

“Passing this small business bill is a small step towards creating jobs, but now it’s time for House Republicans to take the much more important step of passing the Senate’s bipartisan transportation jobs bill, which nearly three million hard-working Americans rely on for their paychecks. This is not hard – there is a bipartisan bill on the table, all House Republican leaders have to do is bring it to the floor and let it pass with bipartisan support, instead of letting the Tea Party force yet another fight where there does not have to be one.”

There is broad, bipartisan, bicameral support for the legislation the Senate is considering today, H.R.3606 – the IPO bill.

This bill passed the House on an overwhelming, bipartisan vote. President Obama supports it. And both Democrats and Republicans in this Chamber are eager to pass it.

It is a good piece of legislation that will improve innovators’ access to capital and give startups the flexibility they need to hire and grow.

But it isn’t a perfect bill. As with any other piece of legislation, there are ways we could strengthen and improve it.

To that end, the Senate will consider two germane amendments to the IPO bill that will protect investors and prevent fraud.

The first amendment – sponsored by the Senator from Oregon, Senator Merkley and others – deals with companies that raise capital online from small investors.

This bipartisan amendment will ensure watchdogs are in place to protect those small investors and their money from fraudulent companies and abuse of the system.

The second amendment – sponsored by Senator Reed of Rhode Island – will ensure fair and honest disclosure by companies raising capital.

It will stop businesses from gaming the system and avoiding oversight by hiding thousands – or tens of thousands – of investors.

Democrats and Republicans agree we need to pass the IPO bill and make it easier for American companies to raise capital, grow their operations and hire new workers.

But we must do so in a way that balances the needs and rights of investors, and prevents fraud and abuse.

These two amendments will go toward accomplish that. They won’t make the bill perfect, but they’ll make it better.

There is no reason Republicans should not join with Democrats to pass this strengthened bill, and send it back to the House as quickly as possible. I hope they will do so.

While the IPO measure before the Senate today is an important piece of legislation, experts agree its impact on job creation will be limited.

The legislation Senate Republicans blocked yesterday, on the other hand, supported 300,000 jobs last year.

My friend, the Republican Leader, has been talking non-stop about how important it is for Congress to continue to create jobs.

So I am disappointed that yesterday Senate Republicans – led by Senator McConnell – rejected this opportunity to help American exporters grow and hire.

The Ex-Im Bank helps American exporters compete in a global economy, and has always enjoyed broad, bipartisan support – until yesterday.

It is backed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Round Table and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

It will reduce the deficit by $1 billion.

It has Republican cosponsors. And in years past it has passed the Senate by unanimous consent.

In fact, my Republican colleagues – including many who voted against this amendment yesterday – admit they support this Export-Import Bank proposal.

The Republican Leader urged his caucus to vote down this worthy proposal – supposedly because he wants to pass it separately.

But that offer is hollow. Republicans want to appear to support the Ex-Im Bank.

But Democrats actually do support the Ex-Im Bank. We want it to become law.

House Republicans have shown no desire to even consider this important jobs measure – let alone pass it.

The only way to ensure the Ex-Im Bank can continue to help American companies grow and create jobs is for the Senate to attach it to the IPO bill.

Yesterday, Senate Republicans had an opportunity to join with Democrats to create hundreds of thousands of jobs in this country. They passed up that opportunity.

Once again, they chose to pick an unnecessary fight instead.

Democrats’ number one priority is to create jobs. I hope Senate Republicans get their own priorities straight, and decide to join us.

For years the Export-Import Bank has helped American companies grow and sell their products overseas. And for years, the Ex-Im Bank has enjoyed broad, bipartisan support.

When it was last authorized in 2006, the Ex-Im bank passed the House by voice vote and the Senate by unanimous consent.

So when Senate Democrats brought a reauthorization of the Ex-Im Bank to the floor last week, we hoped the legislation would receive bipartisan, bicameral support – as it did in 2006.

After all, the measure will support about 300,000 jobs and help American exporters continue to compete in a global economy.

It passed the Banking Committee unanimously.

It has three Republican co-sponsors.

It’s backed by the National Association of Manufacturers, the Business Round Table and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

And it will actually reduce the deficit by about $1 billion.

The Ex-Im Bank is one of those proposals we shouldn’t have to argue over.

But true to form, Republicans in the House are once again spoiling for a fight where there shouldn’t be one.

Yesterday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor called our bill to reauthorize the Ex-Im Bank a “partisan amendment.”

And he claimed this non-controversial, common-sense measure is derailing efforts to pass an IPO bill that would expand innovators’ access to capital. That’s just not true.

Leader Cantor should check in with his Senate colleagues.

Many of them understand American exporters need access to federal financing to stay on a level playing field with global competitors.

Just yesterday, the Senior Senator from South Carolina, Lindsey Graham, said without the Ex-Im Bank “our ability to grow in South Carolina is non-existent.”

In 2011, South Carolina exporters sold more than $130 million worth of goods abroad thanks to Ex-Im Bank financing.

And South Carolina isn’t the only state relying on the Bank to keep businesses thriving.

Nevada companies exported $33 million worth of their products last year thanks to financing from the Export-Import Bank.

In 2011, in the Presiding Officer’s home state of Delaware, the Ex-Im Bank made it possible for private firms to sell more than $39 million worth of goods overseas.

Last year, the Ex-Im Bank supported almost 300,000 jobs across 49 states.

China already provides more investment capital to its exporters than the United States, Canada, Germany and the United Kingdom combined, as Senator Graham said yesterday during a conference call in support of this legislation.

We cannot allow that gulf to widen.

The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says, “Failure to reauthorize Ex-Im would amount to America’s unilateral disarmament in the face of other nations’ aggressive trade finance programs.”

American companies have no choice but to go head-to-head with these Chinese exporters.

But in this Chamber we do have a choice: we can compete, or we can cooperate.

We can engage in yet another unnecessary, unproductive battle. Or we can work together to help American businesses grow and hire. The choice shouldn’t be difficult.

The Senate will vote on this reasonable proposal today.

Almost 300,000 Americans had jobs last year because of the Export-Import Bank. I hope those workers come first as Republican colleagues cast their votes this afternoon.

“Senate Republicans have been using amendments to delay this bipartisan highway bill until Speaker Boehner could figure out a path for dealing with it in the House. Now that the Speaker has publicly signaled he is willing to buck his conservative bloc and give the Senate bill a vote, momentum is on our side. Senate Republicans have no reason to drag this out any longer.”

Fifty-six years ago, it took President Eisenhower a year to convince Congress – and the country – to make an unprecedented investment in America’s highway system.

After all, building 47,000 miles of interstate highways across the nation would require an unparalleled effort and an unprecedented investment.

The project required enough concrete to build six sidewalks to the moon. And it cost $50 billion – or the equivalent of almost half a trillion dollars today.

The project was hugely successful.

It created jobs. It connected farms and factories, tiny town and towering cities. And it allowed manufacturers and merchants to ship goods across the country for the first time in our nation’s history.

Looking back on his great effort to pass the first highway bill, President Eisenhower considered it a crowning accomplishment of his presidency.

“More than any single action by the government since the end of the war, this one would change the face of America,” he wrote in his memoir. “Its impact on the American economy – the jobs it would produce in manufacturing and construction, the rural areas it would open up – was beyond calculation.”

Fifty-six years later, Congress is once again considering transportation legislation, and an investment in this country’s crumbling roads, bridges and train tracks.

But we have the benefit of history on our side.

We know from 56 years of experience that investing in America’s roadways and railways will create and sustain jobs.

And we have no doubt that building a world-class transportation system will help us rebuild our world-class economy.

That is why one of the most conservative members of the Senate, the Senior Senator from Oklahoma, and one of the most liberal members of the Senate, the Junior Senator from California, have joined hands to advance the bipartisan transportation bill before this body.

The bill is comprised of four measures reported out of the Environment and Public Works, Banking, Commerce and Finance committees with bipartisan support. And both sides have agreed to a package of 37 amendments to this legislation.

But in today’s political climate, bipartisan support isn’t enough to keep good legislation alive.

In today’s political climate, 85 votes to begin debate on a measure aren’t enough to guarantee that measure will become law.

The transportation legislation under consideration is truly bipartisan. It will create or sustain 3 million badly needed construction jobs.

Yet, Republican leaders have wasted almost a month of the Senate’s time obstructing this valuable measure for political reasons.

Unfortunately, Democrats cannot keep construction crews working to repair 70,000 collapsing bridges across the country without Republican cooperation.

Without Republican cooperation, we cannot expand the nation’s mass transit system to accommodate tens of thousands of new riders every year.

And without Republican cooperation we cannot create and save 3 million jobs repairing crumbling pavement and building safer sidewalks.

It will take a bipartisan effort to advance this bipartisan legislation.

Frank Turner, a former Federal Highway Administrator, said work on this country’s transportation system “will never be finished because America will never be finished.”

Although the work is never finished, it is up to Congress to sustain the effort.

And unless Congress acts this month, work on highways and bridges and train tracks across the country will grind to a halt.

Unless Congress acts, the American economy will pay the price for partisan bickering.

So I am hopeful my Republican colleagues will join Democrats to put American jobs ahead of procedural games, and help us advance this vital transportation legislation.

Last night a bipartisan group of senators, led by Senator Pryor and Senator Alexander, talked about the need to bring appropriations bills to the floor.

I am a long-time member of the appropriations committee, as is the Republican Leader, and we understand the importance of working on these bills.

In recent years we have done omnibus and minibus spending bills instead of individual appropriations bills. We have to get away from that.

For the integrity of the Senate, Democrats and Republicans must agree to cooperate to get this important work done.

I commend Senator Warner, Senator Hagan, Senator Isakson, Senator Boozman and Senator Graham, who joined Senator Pryor and Senator Alexander on the floor for last night’s colloquy.

I applaud their work, and look forward to working with my Republican colleagues to bring appropriations bills to the floor in regular order.

When President Obama took office three years ago, the auto industry was on life support. And Republicans wanted to pull the plug.

One man seeking the Republican nomination for president said we should “kiss the American automotive industry goodbye.”

He called the death of American auto manufacturers “virtually guaranteed.”

And he argued we should let Detroit go bankrupt.

He wasn’t alone. Some Republicans in this Chamber agreed.

But Democrats weren’t willing to give up on American manufacturing.

Because saving the auto industry wasn’t about saving corporations. It was about saving millions of Americans who work for those corporations.

It wasn’t about saving the people who own race cars. It was about saving the people who work on assembly lines making parts to keep those race cars running.

There was no way Democrats would walk away from millions of Americans whose jobs were on the line – Americans who work in dealerships and distribution centers and manufacturing plants across the country.

So we didn’t give up the fight to save the auto industry. We didn’t give up even when one Senate Republican called our efforts “a road to nowhere.”

The verdict is in – we were right to fight.

The American auto industry has added 160,000 jobs over the last two years.

Last year General Motors reported record profits and sold more vehicles than any other car company in the world.

Chrysler is profitable again, and growing faster in the U.S. than any other major automaker.

So when a Republican presidential frontrunner said we should “kiss the American automotive industry goodbye,” he couldn’t have been more wrong.

We all get one wrong occasionally. The test of character is admitting when we make a mistake.

And it’s time for Republicans to recognize that saving American auto manufacturers – and millions of middle-class jobs – was the right thing to do.

Good news from the auto industry and 23 months of private sector job growth are evidence our economy is headed in the right direction.

But too many Americans are still hurting financially or struggling to find work. And it is crucial Congress continue efforts to create jobs and rebuild our economy.

So Democrats are moving forward with a bipartisan package of jobs bills that will spur small businesses growth.

These measures will improve innovators’ access to capital. And they will streamline how companies sell stock through initial public offerings or IPOs.

These pieces of legislation will also protect the rights of investors.

Next week Chairman Johnson, the Senior Senator from South Dakota, will hold a Banking Committee hearing on this issue. It will be the third hearing on these measures since December.

Senate Democrats have been working on these measures for months.

I am glad to see House Republicans joining Democrats to move this legislation. Common-sense issues like these should not have to turn into knock-down, drag-out fights.

I look forward to moving these measures and our economy forward with the help of my Republican colleagues.

A few potholes on the drive to work may be an inconvenience.

But for companies that ship $10 trillion worth of goods across the country each year, disintegrating roads are more than a nuisance.

A crowded train ride to the office or a broken escalator at the station may be a hassle.

But for 51 million Americans with disabilities – many of whom rely on public transportation to get around – outdated stations and overcrowded trains are more than a minor annoyance.

This country’s crumbling highways, roadways, railways and bridges are more than an inconvenience. They’re a drain on our economy.

Twenty percent of American roads don’t meet safety standards.

More than 70,000 bridges in this country need to be replaced or overhauled.

And our public transportation system can’t keep up with the pace of growing ridership.

Nine out of 10 Americans say rebuilding our crumbling roads and bridges is important.

Democrats in the Senate agree. Modernizing our transit systems and rebuilding the roads American families and businesses depend on will help fuel our economic recovery.

This legislation is too important to be bogged down with unrelated, ideological amendments. Senate Republicans should not commandeer a transportation bill to try to take away women’s access to health services such as contraception, mammograms and other cancer screenings.

The Surface Transportation jobs bill the Senate is considering will create or save 2 million American jobs. And it has broad, bipartisan support.

I respect and appreciate the work done by Senator Boxer and Senator Inhofe on this legislation.

Unfortunately, our House Republican colleagues have gone in the opposite direction. Their bill is a love note to the Tea Party.

The House bill didn’t get a single Democratic vote in committee. The Senate bill, on the other hand, passed out of committee unanimously.

Even some Republicans don’t even support the way the House bill is paid for – by drilling for oil in Alaska’s Arctic National Wildlife Refuge.

And Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, a Republican, said the House legislation is the worst transportation bill he has seen in 35 years of public service.

There are plenty of reasons, but here are a few:

• The House legislation would gut public health and environmental protections.
• It would ax funding for pedestrian safety, even though a pedestrian is injured or killed by a car in this country every seven minutes.
• And it would starve our nation’s public transportation systems.

The House bill reverses 30 years of good policy of dedicating funding each year for mass transit. That policy was enacted in 1982 by President Reagan.

Many House Republicans don’t support the plan to shortchange millions of Americans – especially seniors and people with disabilities – who count on public transportation.

And everyone from the U.S. Chamber of Commerce to AARP has come out against the drastic approach taken by the House bill.

On the other hand, the U.S. Chamber and hundreds of other national organizations support of the Senate bill.

I am disappointed that House Republicans have once again chosen the partisan path.

Rebuilding a transportation system our economy can rely on shouldn’t be divisive.

Given a choice between working with Democrats to create good-paying jobs for American workers and playing politics, House Republicans chose politics once again.

In the 1950’s, America embarked on the largest public works project in its history: a new web of interstate highways.

This unprecedented 47,000 miles of highways would, for the first time, connect businesses and communities from sea to shining sea.

President Eisenhower, a Republican, said the investment would pave the way for a new era of American growth.

“[America] will be a nation of great prosperity, but will be more than that: it will be a nation that is going ahead every day… The expanding horizon is one that staggers the imagination.”

As a young Major in the Army, President Eisenhower had been assigned to bring a caravan of vehicles across the country over rutted and dilapidated roads. It was a terrible experience, and something he never forgot.

President Eisenhower said a new highway system was essential to our economy, our safety and our progress as a nation. That’s just as true today as it was in 1954.

Today America depends on more than four million miles of roadways to keep our economy humming.

We use those roads to take the kids across town to school and to take products across the nation to market.

But the system of highways, roadways, railways and bridges upon which the American economy depends – and in which we invested great resources during the last century – has fallen into disrepair.

More than 70,000 bridges in this country are “structurally deficient.” They need major repairs or to be replaced completely.

Every month in America, enough pedestrians are killed to fill a jumbo jet. Many of those deaths could have been prevented by proper sidewalks and crosswalks.

Bus and train ridership grows every year, while public transportation dollars shrink.

And one of every five miles of American roads is not up to safety standards.

Crumbling infrastructure is a terrible drag on our economy. But this crisis is also an opportunity.

By rebuilding our transportation system, we can put 2 million Americans back to work and boost our economy right away.

The Surface Transportation jobs bill on the floor this week is one of the most important pieces of legislation we’ll consider this year.

It will help modernize our transit systems, rebuild America’s roads and bridges and create or save millions of middle-class jobs. And it will do it in a fiscally responsible way.

Democrats and Republicans agree that making America’s transportation system great again will bolster our economy.

President Reagan called a world-class transportation system “an investment in tomorrow that we must make today.”

So it’s no wonder this strong, bipartisan Surface Transportation legislation passed out of committee unanimously.

I am cautiously optimistic that spirit of cooperation will hold this week.

And I hope the Junior Senator from South Carolina did not speak for the majority of Republicans last week when he said this: “We don’t have shared goals with the Democrats.”

I would like to believe Republicans share our goal of strengthening the economy and creating millions of jobs for Americans workers.

I would like to believe they share our goal, as Eisenhower and Reagan did, of rebuilding a world-class transportation system to support a world-class economy.

This week, Republicans have an opportunity to prove they share those goals.

The Surface Transportation jobs bill is too important to get bogged down with ideological amendments. Unrelated legislation that would limit women’s access to health care has no place on a transportation bill.

Let’s stay laser focused on our most important task: putting 2 million Americans back to work rebuilding our roadways and railways.

Together we can keep this nation, as Eisenhower said, moving ahead every day.

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

In this country, owning a house means more than a roof over your head. It’s the centerpiece of the American Dream.

But for many responsible Americans, the dream of homeownership has become a nightmare.

When Wall Street greed collapsed the economy in 2008, the housing market collapsed along with it. That meant freefalling home prices and a staggering numbers of foreclosures.

No state in the nation was hit harder than Nevada. For five consecutive years, Nevada has led the nation in foreclosures.

The foreclosure rate in Nevada is 400 percent the national average.

Behind those statistics are people – families that bought homes where they could raise their families.

Many Nevadans who worked hard, saved money and shopped responsibly are now so far underwater they can’t see a way out.

In Nevada, three out of every four homeowners are upside down in their mortgages.

So, who is responsible? There’s plenty of blame to go around.

Brokers sold loans that could never be repaid. Buyers bought houses they couldn’t afford. Banks bundled bad loans to sell to investors.

But regardless of who is at fault, millions of homeowners who did everything right are still on the hook for a financial crisis they didn’t cause. Many of them have never missed a payment.

Unlike some Republicans, I don’t believe the answer is to throw up our hands and do nothing.

Homeowners who have watched their equity evaporate don’t have time to sit and wait for the market to reach rock bottom, as one Republican presidential candidate suggested.

Congress and President Obama have taken action to ease this crisis. Not everything we’ve done to ease the crisis has worked. But we need to continue programs that are working, and fix ones that aren’t.

I support the President’s efforts to reduce the hurdles to refinancing. Nearly 15 million Americans could benefit from refinancing their loans at today’s historically low interest rates.

We must keep Americans who have lost their jobs from losing their homes as well. This proposal will help them reduce their monthly payments and save thousands of dollars every year.

And for families who owe more than their houses are worth, it will help them rebuild the equity they lost because of the collapse in housing prices.

Red tape should no longer keep responsible homeowners from refinancing their loans and restoring their futures.

There are some who advocate a do-nothing policy. They say there’s nothing we can do to help. They couldn’t be more wrong.

Here’s just one example: my Nevada offices have hosted several foreclosure workshops. More than 2,000 people have taken the opportunity to sit down face-to-face with their lenders, often for the first time.

Several thousands more have gotten help from caseworkers in my offices. Caseworkers and owners have worked together to literally save homes from the auction block.

My office is hosting another workshop in Las Vegas on Saturday.

We can’t help everyone. But we must do more to help those we can.

It’s time for more federal action.

It’s time to give homeowners in every state – including Nevada – the tools they need to hold onto their homes and hold onto the American Dream.

“While I continue to be encouraged by the improving jobs numbers, millions of families continue to struggle in Nevada and around the country. Creating jobs is Congress’s top priority and we must keep moving to pass common-sense solutions that put Americans back to work.

“Next week the Senate will pass a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration, an aviation jobs bill, which will create or save 280,000 American jobs. We also must act quickly to extend the middle tax class payroll tax cut through the end of the year. If Republicans continue to drag their feet on extending this tax cut, Democrats will move forward with this legislation to ensure that middle class families don’t get hit with a tax increase at the end of the month and we don’t jeopardize the economic gains we’ve seen over the past few months.

“I hope my Republican colleagues will work with Democrats on passing these common sense measures. The American people expect us to put politics aside and put the interests of the middle class families first.”

In 1946, President Harry Truman delivered his first State of the Union message. It was the first since the end of World War II.

The trials of war were behind us. But new challenges lay ahead.

Truman laid out a vision for how America could not only survive those challenges, but thrive in a modern world.

He described the path forward in simple words: “Our basic objective – toward which all others lead – is to improve the welfare of the American people.”

That meant economic prosperity. It meant Social Security and unemployment insurance. It meant opportunity for higher education, access to medical care and the dream of homeownership.

The goal, he wrote, was “that we become a well-housed people, a well-nourished people, an educated people, a people socially and economically secure, an alert and responsible people.”

And in the three decades that followed, that vision was reality. The middle class was never larger and never stronger. And it had never been easier to become a part of that middle class.

Through hard work and ingenuity, Americans prospered together.

For three decades after World War II, the rungs on the ladder to success grew closer together.

But in the three decades that followed, something changed.

The goal was the same – to be a well-housed, well-educated nation of responsible and economically secure people.

But for many, reaching that goal became more difficult.

Incomes skyrocketed for the richest few. But they stalled for the rest. And the middle class lost more and more ground.

Today, the richest one percent holds nearly half of all the wealth in this country.

Today, the richest one percent takes home a quarter of the personal income.

Americans are working just as hard as they worked 60 years ago. But that hard work is paying off for fewer and fewer people.

What does this mean? For the last three decades, the rungs on the ladder to success have grown farther apart instead of closer together.

And the farther apart those rungs grow, the fewer Americans climb that ladder. The farther apart those rungs are, the fewer Americans make it into a disappearing middle class.

We just weathered the worst recession since the Great Depression. But the financial collapse of 2008 wasn’t the cause of the problem – it was a symptom of the problem.

It was a symptom of a system that is rigged to pay off for a few, but leave many behind. And it’s time we evened the playing field.

As we rebuild our economy, let’s rebuild it to last. Let’s rebuild it to work for every American, regardless of the size of their bank account.

This week, President Obama laid out a vision to do just that.

The President’s plan will spur manufacturing. It’s time to reward companies that “make it in America” and end giveaways to companies that ship jobs overseas.

It will reduce our reliance on expensive foreign oil. It’s time to rely on plentiful, home-grown, renewable energy sources.

The plan will ensure today’s students have the skills to become tomorrow’s workers. That is the only way to keep pace in a competitive global economy.

And it will return this country to the core value that made it great: fairness.

Everyone must share the prosperity as well as the responsibility. And every person and every corporation must play by the same rules.

That value encouraged three decades of growth after World War II. And it can make America grow again.

I look forward to working with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to make this vision of fairness a reality.

(Prepared by Majority Staff, Senate Budget Committee)

It is wrong to assert that there is no budget. The Budget Control Act enacted in August contained the budget for this year. It was passed by both the House and Senate, signed by the President, and enacted into law.

The Budget Control Act achieved all of the essential elements of a traditional budget – setting discretionary caps, providing enforcement mechanisms, and creating a process for addressing entitlement spending and revenues.

In many ways, the Budget Control Act was even more extensive than a traditional budget:

• It has the force of law, unlike a budget resolution that is not signed by the President.
• It set discretionary caps for 10 years, instead of the one year normally set in a budget resolution.
• It provided enforcement mechanisms, including a two-year “deemer,” allowing budget points of order to be enforced.
• And it addressed entitlement spending and revenues by creating the “Super Committee,” which was given explicit authority to reform entitlements and the tax code. The Super Committee process represented an enhanced version of the reconciliation process that can be established under a budget resolution. And it was further backed up with a $1.2 trillion sequester.

Republican rhetoric aside, Congress did pass a budget. The Republican-controlled House passed it; the Democratic Senate passed it; and the President signed it. The Budget Control Act set 10 years of spending caps; it established a two-year “deemer” to enforce spending levels; and it created a reconciliation-like process to consider entitlement and tax reform.

For generations, this was the American promise: if you worked hard and played by the rules, success would be in reach.

We called that success the American Dream – to earn a decent wage, buy a home, put your children through school and retire comfortably.

But for many people in this country that dream has drifted further and further from reality.

The recession cost many Americans their jobs, homes, savings and basic economic security. Many are still struggling.

And although the economy has made slow progress toward recovery, there is still much more work to be done before every American who wants to work can find a job.

But the terrible recession is only part of the problem. The same Wall Street greed that caused the financial collapse is fueling the greatest income disparity since the Great Depression.

In the last few decades, the average CEO’s income has multiplied 250 times. Meanwhile, that CEO’s employees have watched their incomes barely creep up.

This country is at a crossroads.

As President Johnson said in 1965, it is time to ask, “not only how to create wealth but how to use it; not only how fast we are going, but where we are headed.”

And the path we choose will determine what kind of country we will be.

We can choose to be the kind of nation where hard work of many pays off only for the richest few.

Or we can be the kind of nation where every man and woman shoulders a fair share of the burden and reaps a fair share of the reward.

We can be the kind of country where the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

Or we can be the kind of country where middle-class families share in the prosperity.

President Obama has called this choice a “make or break moment” for the middle class.

And tonight he will lay out a roadmap that sets us on the path to fairness instead of inequality. I look forward to hearing President Obama’s vision.

It begins with an economy that works for every American – regardless of the size of his or her checkbook.

I expect the President to lay out common-sense ideas to spur American manufacturing, create jobs and help small business compete and grow.

His vision is fueled by home-grown, renewable energy. It’s time to stop spending American dollars on foreign oil. It’s time to hire American workers to build wind turbines and next-generation vehicles.

The President will propose a new plan to make sure today’s students are ready for tomorrow’s jobs – and that today’s workers remain competitive in a global economy.

I expect the President’s vision to include ideas from Democrats and Republicans.

For three years the President has reached out to Republicans. Now is the time to work with him on common ideas to produce legislation – not stalemate.

I ask my Republican colleagues to give his bipartisan vision the consideration it deserves.

In 1947, President Truman delivered the first televised State of the Union.

Truman was the 20th president to govern alongside a Congress controlled by the opposing party. (The first was George Washington.)

He said Democrats in the executive branch and Republicans in the legislative branch could and should work hand in hand to shape the nation.

This is what he said: “There are ways of disagreeing; men who differ can still work together sincerely for the common good.”

I hope Republicans in Congress will keep those words in mind tonight. Despite all our differences, together we can build an economy that works for the common good of all Americans.

“Creating jobs must continue to be Congress’ top priority. While the economy has shown signs of improvement, that is no consolation for the millions of Americans who are out of a job and struggling to make ends meet in Nevada and across the country.

“The first thing the Senate must do to strengthen our economy is extend the payroll tax cut for the remainder of this year. This middle class tax cut is vital for 160 million American workers who count on this money to help them put food on the table and heat their homes this winter.

“I hope my Republican colleagues have learned from their recent mistakes, and will begin the New Year focused on working with Democrats to create jobs, instead of scoring political points against President Obama.”

“The bill passed by House Republicans tonight is a pointless, partisan exercise. The Senate will not pass it and the President has said he will veto it.  Democrats were ready to have a vote tonight to prove that. But despite calling for the Senate to vote on the House bill ‘without delay,’ Leader McConnell told me he needs more time and will not be able to make a decision until tomorrow morning.

“We need to begin real negotiations on how to prevent a $1,000 tax hike on American families. The sooner we get this vote over with, the sooner those negotiations can begin in earnest. I will speak with Sen. McConnell again tomorrow to determine how soon we can hold this vote.

“On January 1^st, every American worker will have less money to spend on groceries and gas and rent. We can’t let that happen. And we can’t afford to waste any more time.”

In the last month, Republican leaders have repeated this mantra over and over: we support a payroll tax cut for working families.

We have yet to see the proof.

Senate Republicans have twice voted down their own payroll tax cut proposal. And House Republicans were unable to bring their plan to a vote for weeks.

We understand they’re going to have a run at that tonight.

When I served in the House, no one would ever consider pushing something through with a majority of the majority. When I served, the Majority Leader and the Speaker always worked together on a bipartisan basis to get legislation passed.

Now Republicans say they won’t pass anything unless they can do it on their own. That’s unfortunate.

I spoke to the Speaker yesterday. This is what I told him: we are not going to finish the work of our country this year unless we work together.

He can’t pass anything in the House without Democratic votes, because anything you pass with strictly Republican votes fails over here.

In the Senate, we can’t pass anything unless we get Republican votes. It’s a fact of life.

And we have issues, we must complete this year. As I explained to the Speaker yesterday, we have to do this together.

So I’m very disappointed in what the Speaker has done to his payroll tax proposal to get Tea Party votes.

Speaker Boehner had to add ideological candy coating to his bill to get rebellious, rank-and-file Republicans on board.

They added a provision to fasttrack a controversial pipeline proposal attractive to the Tea Party because they believe it is opposed by President Obama.

Congressman Jim Jordan said this about the Keystone XL pipeline: “Frankly, the fact that the President doesn’t like it makes me like it even more.”

But President Obama doesn’t oppose this proposal. That’s not true. He believes it’s an important proposal that deserves proper review.

And, as Secretary of State Clinton said yesterday, if Republicans push him to make an uninformed decision in three months – as this legislation would – he will be forced to deny the permit.

If Republicans push this through, the pipeline is bound and doomed to failure.

That’s why President Obama and Democrats in the Senate have already declared the House legislation dead on arrival. Yet – after weeks of delay – Republicans plan a vote on it tonight.

They are wasting time catering to the Tea Party when they should be working with Democrats on a bipartisan package that can pass both houses.

Democrats have offered solutions – serious, good-faith proposals with bipartisan support.

If Republicans continue to block these reasonable plans to cut taxes for 160 million workers, there will be consequences.

Middle-class Americans will notice when they open their paychecks in January and have less money to spend. And they’ll have Republicans in Congress to blame.

For the third time in two weeks, Senate Republicans have filibustered a qualified nominee.

Last night, they blocked confirmation of Mari Carmen Aponte to serve as ambassador to El Salvador, a job she did well for 15 months. Ms. Aponte finalized an important, international, anti-crime agreement and forged a strong partnership with El Salvodor during her time as ambassador.

Late last week, Republicans blocked the nomination of Richard Cordray to serve as head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. Mr. Cordray has a record of protecting consumers from predatory lenders.

And two days before that, Republicans blocked the nomination of Caitlin Halligan to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. Ms. Halligan is an exceptional legal mind with an impeccable resume.

All three nominees were qualified. All three had bipartisan support. All three were committed, enthusiastic public servants.

Yet Republicans opposed their nominations for one purely partisan reason – to deal a blow to President Obama.

This kind of Republican obstructionism has unfortunately become commonplace. But it also has consequences.

And Republicans aiming to hurt the President have once again harmed our country instead.

Today the Senate will vote on two nominations: those of Norman Eisen to serve as ambassador to the Czech Republic and Mari Carmen Aponte to serve as ambassador to El Salvador.

These nominees are accomplished, qualified public servants who will continue to represent their nation with distinction.

For my Republican colleagues, however, being qualified and dedicated is no longer enough.

Last week they blocked the nomination of a “brilliant legal mind,” Caitlin Halligan, to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit.

And they blocked the nomination of Richard Cordray to lead the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau despite his obvious qualifications for the job.

He has a long history of protecting the middle-class against unfair practices by financial predators. And he would have been a great asset in our fight to protect Main Street from the kind of Wall Street greed that caused the 2008 financial crisis.

Yet Republicans denied Mr. Cordray’s confirmation to weaken the agency he was nominated to lead.

I hope Republicans will not turn every confirmation process into a political three-ring circus. These candidates – in particular Ms. Aponte – have jumped through enough hoops already.

Ms. Aponte’s accomplished record as ambassador to El Salvador over the last 15 months speaks for itself. And experts on the region from across the political spectrum support her confirmation.

The same enthusiasm is there for Mr. Eisen.

If Republicans block the confirmation of these qualified candidates, it will be for nakedly partisan reasons.

Also under partisan assault this month is a Democratic proposal to prevent a $1,000 tax increase on working families.

Senate Republicans have blocked four proposals to protect middle-class pocketbooks.

Every hour they delay and every day they filibuster is one more the Senate will stay in Washington to get its work done.

Republicans have opposed our plan to pay for this legislation with a tiny surtax on a tiny fraction of America’s highest earners.

The tax would only apply to the second million the wealthiest Americans earn.

But Republicans say the richest of the rich in this country – even those who make millions every year – shouldn’t contribute more to get our economy back on track.

They call our plan a tax on so-called “job creators.” Yet every shred of evidence contradicts this red herring.

National Public Radio went looking for one of these fictitious millionaire “job creators.”

A reporter reached out to business groups, the anti-tax lobby and Republicans in Congress hoping to interview one of these millionaires. Days ticked by with no luck.

Millionaire job creators are like unicorns – impossible to find.

That’s because only a tiny fraction of people making more than $1 million – about one percent – are actually small business owners. And only a tiny fraction of that tiny fraction is traditional job creators.

Most of those business owners are hedge fund managers or wealthy lawyers.

They don’t do much hiring. And they don’t need more tax breaks.

Finally, the NPR reporter looked for millionaire job creators hiding on Facebook. This time, she actually found some.

And they actually supported our plan to ask the richest of the rich to pitch in to improve the economy for all Americans.

This is what Jason Burger, owner of a contracting company that is “hiring like crazy” said about our proposal: “It’s only fair that I put back into the system that is the entire reason for my success.”

Mr. Burger may be a millionaire, but he isn’t one in a million. A majority of people who make more than $1 million a year say they would gladly contribute more to improve the economy.

It’s often said that what is good for business is good for America. But I hope my Republican colleagues remember, as Mr. Burger does, that what is good for America is also good for business.

“Republicans showed yet again that they are more interested in passing tax cuts for millionaires than tax cuts for the middle class. Senate Republicans rejected two proposals to give middle-class families a tax cut.  And House Republican leaders had to entice their members into supporting their proposal by weighing it down with a laundry list of policies whose sole purpose are scoring points against President Obama.

“House Republicans’ bill is a partisan joke that has no chance of passing the Senate, but middle-class families facing a thousand-dollar tax hike on January 1^st are not laughing. Instead of playing political games, Congress should work to find common ground. In the days ahead, I intend to do exactly that.”

“This was not a vote against Mr. Cordray. Today, Republicans voted against Main Street just to protect Wall Street. Republicans blocked an eminently qualified nominee to lead an agency charged with protecting working families from financial fraud and unfair practices. Republicans know that Mr. Cordray is the perfect nominee for the job. As Ohio’s Attorney General, he prosecuted financial predators and recovered more than $2 billion of the hard earned money of retirees and investors. Republicans know he is a great attorney who clerked for two Supreme Court Justices. They know his career has been characterized by bipartisan support.

“But Senate Republicans blocked him because they don’t like the agency he would lead – an agency charged with protecting consumers from the abusive Wall Street practices that led to the financial crisis. Without a director, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will be substantially weakened.

“This was the first time in Senate history a party blocked a qualified nominee solely because it disagrees with the existence of an agency that was created by law, through a bipartisan vote. Republicans should work with Democrats to strengthen protections for American consumers instead of working to weaken this important agency.”

Seventy years ago, the attack on Pearl Harbor changed our country forever. It also hardened our resolved to become a better, stronger nation.

The example of the USS Nevada epitomizes that resiliency. While in the port of Oahu on December 7, 1941, the battleship was hit by several bombs and a torpedo. Sixty Americans were killed.

Less than a year later that battleship returned to service.

Today we honor the living Pearl Harbor veterans for their courage and sacrifice.

We also remember the nearly 2,400 Americans who lost their lives that day, and the hundreds of thousands more who made the ultimate sacrifice during World War II.

These service members were true heroes. They set a fine example for the men and women who protect our freedoms today. And we will never forget their courage.

Republicans like to claim they are the Party of tax cuts.

But as Democrats propose more tax relief for working families, Republicans are showing their true colors. They only support tax cuts that benefit the rich.

Speaker Boehner and Senator McConnell say they agree with Democrats that we should prevent a $1,000 tax hike on middle class families.

But it has become clear that the caucuses they lead do not.

Tea Party Republicans oppose our plan to cut taxes for nearly every family in America. But Republican leaders recognize taking $1,000 out of middle-class pockets during these hard times is political suicide.

Reports today say the bitter division has thrown the House Republican caucus into disarray.

Faced with rebellion in their caucuses, Republican leaders have two options: they can work with Democrats to forge a compromise that can pass, or they can move even further to the right to appease the Tea Party.

As we have seen before, when faced with a choice between the middle class and the Tea Party, Republicans will choose the Tea party every time.

Tomorrow the Senate will vote on whether to move forward with confirmation of Richard Cordray, the nominee to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

My Republican colleagues have signaled that they will block Mr. Cordray’s nomination – but not because he’s unqualified.

For the first time in Senate history, Republicans are poised to block a qualified nominee solely because they don’t like the federal agency he will lead.

Senate Republicans have no problem with Richard Cordray. He has bipartisan support and a long history of fighting unfair practices by financial predators.

Instead Republicans are trying to cripple the new consumer agency altogether by depriving it of a director.

Their attempts to hamstring the consumer watchdog will leave Americans vulnerable to scams and rip-offs.

It is shameful that Republicans would leave consumers in the dark about the risks they face when making financial decisions only to prove a political point.

For 45 years Medicare has been improving and extending the lives of seniors.

Passing the Affordable Care Act ensured Medicare would stay strong for future generations of retirees. But health care reform is also helping today’s seniors by beginning to close the doughnut hole.

This year, more than 2.5 million Medicare recipients, including thousands of Nevadans, saved nearly $600 apiece on prescription drugs.

For some seniors on fixed incomes, those savings prevented difficult choices between food and live-saving medicine.

Medicare recipients have saved more than $1.6 billion so far this year thanks to this provision.

And more than 24 million seniors got free physicals this year because of health care reform.

That’s progress Democrats can be proud of.

Expands and Extends the Payroll Tax Cut For the Middle Class

Cantor: “You Aren’t A Republican” If You Vote Against Payroll Tax Cut Extension. “During the closed-door meeting Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) urged rank-and-file members to support the extension, saying it was necessary for a party that historically opposes tax increases, a leadership aide said. Cantor told members that ‘taxes are a Republican issue and you aren’t a Republican if you want to raise taxes on struggling families to fund bigger government,’ according to a source in the room.” [The Hill, 11/30/11]

Boehner: “If You Guys Think That Not Extending the Payroll Tax Cut Is Politically Advantageous, You’ve Got to Be Kidding Yourself.” According to Roll Call, “House Republican leaders bluntly warned their Members on Wednesday that opposing an extension to a popular payroll tax cut is politically unsustainable. According to a Republican source in the GOP’s weekly conference meeting Wednesday, Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) told his conference that ‘if you guys think that not extending the payroll tax cut is politically advantageous, you’ve got to be kidding yourself.’” [Roll Call, 11/30/11]

McConnell: “Republicans Are Going To Put Aside Their Misgivings And Support This Extension.” McConnell also said, “There’s a lot of sentiment in our conference, clearly a majority sentiment, for continuing the payroll tax relief that we enacted a year ago in these tough times.” [CQ, 11/28/11]

PAID FOR WITH…

… Bipartisan Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac Reforms Agreed to During the Joint Super Committee Negotiations…

…Bipartisan Proposal to Ensure Wealthiest Americans Don’t Receive Unemployment Benefits or Food Stamps…

… Asking Millionaires to Pay Their Fair Share With a Small Increase on the Taxes They Pay on Income Over a Million.

Republican Super Committee Proposal Contained Increase in Freddie/Fannie Loan Fees.  [Fox News, 11/21/11]

• Sen. Toomey Called Revenues From Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac “Really Noncontroversial, Innocuous Things” “And when presented with the options — you know, we put a deal on the table with the least possibly controversial items, things like a very modest savings of some of the least defensible agricultural subsidies that Democrats and Republicans on the committee said they could accomplish, ending some corporate subsidies, asking banks to pay something closer to a market fee for the guarantees they get from Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. These are really noncontroversial, innocuous things.” [Fox News, 11/21/11]
• Sen. Kyl Said Republicans Agreed to Raising Fees on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac. “Finally, more in desperation than anything else Republicans said last week, look, if we can’t agree on those things why don’t we agree on what we essentially agreed on. There are a lot of places where the government has surplus property we can sell, where we can raise fees on Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.”  [CNN, 11/21/11]

Senate Republicans Paid for Payroll Tax Extension By Means Testing Food Stamps and Unemployment Benefits.  Last week, Senate Republicans introduced a proposal to extend the payroll tax cut.  The GOP proposal was paid for by ending unemployment and food stamp benefits for Millionaires. Twenty Senate Republicans voted for the bill. [S. 1931]

• Sen. Coburn Said We Should Not “Pamper” The Well Off With “Unnecessary Welfare”  “This welfare for the well-off – costing billions of dollars a year – is being paid for with the taxes of the less fortunate, many who are working two jobs just to make ends meet, and IOUs to be paid off by future generations. We should never demonize those who are successful. Nor should we pamper them with unnecessary welfare to create an appearance everyone is benefiting from federal programs.” [Press Release, 11/13/11]

Bipartisan Majority Voted For Payroll Tax Extension Paid For By Millionaire Surtax.  Last week, a bi-partisan majority, including GOP Senator Susan Collins, voted for an extension of the payroll tax cut that was paid for with a Millionaire surtax.  [Vote, 12/1/11]

• Senator Collins Said Multimillionaires and Billionaires “Could Pay More of their Income to Help Us Pay More of the Deficit” “I do believe that multimillionaires and billionaires who are not running businesses could pay more of their income to help us pay more of the deficit,” Collins said Wednesday. [Roll Call, 12/1/11]
• Senator Roberts Suggested GOP Could Support Tax Increases On High-Income Earners. According to the New York Times, “Senator Pat Roberts, Republican of Kansas, said his party’s plan could involve a small increase in taxes for some high-income people who meet certain criteria.” [NY Times, 11/30/11]
• Senator Johanns Sensed “Change In Mood” On Millionaires’ Tax. “Another Republican senator has opened the door to tax increases on high earners as a way to pay for a payroll tax cut, showing more movement in the party ranks after resistance all year to tax increases.  ‘I sense a change in mood,’ Senator Mike Johanns, Republican of Nebraska, said Wednesday.’ “It’s a little more bipartisan. My position has always been, ‘Let’s not raise taxes,’ but on the other hand, I don’t want our country to collapses under a mountain of debt. If that means compromise, I am going to do everything to get that done.’” [NY Times, 11/30/11]

Washington, D.C. – Nevada Senator Harry Reid made the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding a compromise payroll tax cut extension proposal. Below are his remarks as prepared:

Last week my friend, the Republican Leader, tried to convince me Republicans realize it would be disastrous to raise taxes on the middle class.

Here on the Senate floor, he quoted half a dozen news reports as evidence Senate Republicans support an extension of payroll tax cuts for 160 million American workers.

I told him I was skeptical Republicans really support this tax cut. It turns out I was right.

On Thursday Republicans shot down Democrats’ proposal to cut taxes for middle-class Americans, supposedly on the grounds it raised taxes on the richest of the rich in this country.

But a few minutes later Republicans also shot down their own proposal to extend payroll tax cuts, even though it was paid for with their own hand-picked reductions in government spending.

Whatever my friend, Senator McConnell, may say, it is obvious Republicans just aren’t interested in preventing a $1,000 tax increase on nearly every family in this nation from taking effect on Jan. 1.

But Democrats will not relent on keeping taxes low for the middle class. So today Sen. Casey will unveil a modified version of the payroll tax cut proposal he introduced last week.

Like our previous proposal, this scaled-back version will cut taxes for 160 million American workers, including 1.2 million Nevadans. Sen. Casey’s proposal will allow the average family to keep an extra $1,500 to spend on necessities next year.

And like our previous proposal it won’t add a penny to the deficit. It will be fully paid for with a mixture of spending cuts Republicans have already agreed to and a tiny surtax on the top two-tenths of one percent of American taxpayers.

Every spending reduction in the proposal was agreed to by a bicameral group of Republicans on the Supercommittee, so we know they support these cuts.

And, in an effort to make our proposal more palatable to Republicans, we have conceded to significantly cut the surtax on income above $1 million and make it temporary.

Democrats know how important extending and expanding the payroll tax cut is to working families. It’s also important to our economy.

Economists of every political persuasion agree if Republicans block this proposal – raising taxes on American families by $1,000 next month – it will have an immediate, negative impact on our economy. It will halt our still-fragile recovery in its tracks, and drag us back into recession.

We all know Congress can’t afford to play chicken with the economy. That’s why Democrats are committed to passing this payroll tax cut.

Republicans need to be prepared to meet us partway. We are offering a serious proposal with meaningful concessions, including spending cuts Republicans have already agreed to.

And the scaled-back, temporary tax on the very richest Americans – a group with an average income of $3 million a year – is also a sincere attempt to get Senate Republicans on board.

We know a few of them have even said publically that they are open to asking millionaires and billionaires to contribute to our economic recovery. I only hope they have the courage to act on their convictions.

I repeat: this is a serious proposal, and Republicans should take it seriously.

Here’s why: Americans, regardless of political affiliation, say they wholeheartedly support Democrats’ plan to cut taxes for middle-class families.

Fifty-eight percent of Republicans agree we should extend and expand payroll tax cuts for 160 million American workers.

Further, Americans overwhelmingly support our proposal to ask millionaires and billionaires to pay their fair share to help this country thrive.

Americans from every corner of the country and every walk of life agree. Democrats, Republicans and Independents agree.

Asked if they support a plan that would require people making more than $1 million a year to contribute a little more to ensure this country’s economic success, the results were decisive: three-quarters of Americans said yes.

Wealthy Americans agree. Two-thirds of people making more than $1 million a year said they would gladly contribute more.

A supermajority of Republicans agrees, with two-thirds supporting the idea. And even a majority – 52 percent – of members of the Tea Party agreed.

It seems the only place in the country you can’t find a majority of Republicans willing to speak up for shared sacrifice is the United States Senate.

Republicans across the country support our plan and the way it is paid for. Republicans in Congress dismiss it at their peril. The American people are watching.

Acknowledging that Republican opposition to middle-class tax cuts was untenable, Republican leaders spent this week trying to convince the world that they supported middle-class tax cuts:

Cantor: “You Aren’t A Republican” If You Vote Against Payroll Tax Cut Extension. According to the Hill, “During the closed-door meeting Boehner and Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) urged rank-and-file members to support the extension, saying it was necessary for a party that historically opposes tax increases, a leadership aide said. Cantor told members that ‘taxes are a Republican issue and you aren’t a Republican if you want to raise taxes on struggling families to fund bigger government,’ according to a source in the room.” [The Hill, 11/30/11]

Boehner: “If You Guys Think That Not Extending the Payroll Tax Cut Is Politically Advantageous, You’ve Got to Be Kidding Yourself.” According to Roll Call, “House Republican leaders bluntly warned their Members on Wednesday that opposing an extension to a popular payroll tax cut is politically unsustainable. According to a Republican source in the GOP’s weekly conference meeting Wednesday, Speaker John Boehner (Ohio) told his conference that ‘if you guys think that not extending the payroll tax cut is politically advantageous, you’ve got to be kidding yourself.’” [Roll Call, 11/30/11]

McConnell: “Republicans Are Going To Put Aside Their Misgivings And Support This Extension.” McConnell also said, “There’s a lot of sentiment in our conference, clearly a majority sentiment, for continuing the payroll tax relief that we enacted a year ago in these tough times.” [CQ, 11/28/11]

But last night, a majority of Senate Republicans bucked McConnell, voting against the Republican plan and exposing their true colors: Republicans want to give tax breaks to millionaires, but not the middle class.

Washington Post: “In A Surprising Turn, More Republicans Voted Against The GOP Plan Than In Favor Of It.” “All but a handful of Democrats voted in favor of their party’s proposal, but in a surprising turn, more Republicans voted against the GOP plan than in favor of it. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) predicted this week that a majority of his conference would vote for the party’s plan to extend the payroll tax cut. The vote suggests that rank-and-file Republicans remain divided on the merits of keeping the tax cut, leaving their party vulnerable to criticism from Democrats that they would raise taxes on the middle class as Americans are struggling economically.” [Washington Post, 12/2/11]

Politico: “Mass Defections Reflect The Payroll Extension’s Unpopularity Among Rank-And-File Republicans.” “The mass defections reflect the payroll extension’s unpopularity among rank-and-file Republicans, even as GOP leaders move to make the Obama proposal more palatable to their caucus and block Democrats from seizing the mantle of the tax-cutting party. The divided conference also portends how difficult it will be for Speaker John Boehner to move a payroll tax cut extension through his chamber without significant Democratic backing… [A] surprising number of Republicans defected from their party’s proposal – 26 in total, despite comments from Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell earlier this week that the GOP would support a payroll tax cut extension.” [Politico, 12/2/11]

Reuters: “Republican Ambivalence Toward Any Extension of the Payroll Tax Cut Was Evident” “Republican ambivalence toward any extension of the payroll tax cut was evident in the Senate as a majority of the party’s 47 senators voted against the Republican plan.” [Reuters, 12/2/11]

New York Times: Republicans Leaders “Struggle”, in “Political Bind” “Republican leaders’ struggle this week to find a strategy that could unite their party reflected the political bind it is in. Nearly 7 in 10 Americans said the policies of Republicans in Congress favored the rich, a New York Times/CBS News poll found in October.” [NY Times, 12/2/11]

Wall Street Journal: Republican Leaders “Fear The Politics Of Allowing A Tax Increase To Hit Virtually All Wage-Earners” “The vote suggests a disconnect between Republican leaders of both houses, who fear the politics of allowing a tax increase to hit virtually all wage-earners on Jan. 1, and many rank-and-file Republicans, who say the payroll-tax cut doesn’t create jobs and oppose short-term tweaks to the tax code.” [WSJ, 12/2/11]

Associated Press: Vote “Exposed Rare Divisions Among Senate Republicans” “But in a vote that exposed rare divisions among Senate Republicans, more than two dozen of the GOP’s 47 lawmakers also voted to kill an alternative plan backed by their leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., to renew an existing 2 percentage point payroll tax cut.” [AP, 12/2/11]

Los Angeles Times: “Deep Resistance” Within GOP to Payroll Tax Cuts.  “Both bills met with GOP opposition, illustrating deep resistance within the ranks despite party leaders’ efforts to coalesce around the politically volatile issue.” [LA Times, 12/2/11]

The vote was a rejection of McConnnell’s effort to corral his caucus – Sen. Thune Called Republican Proposal “The Right Way” Minutes Before Voting Against It:

Thune Called The Republican Proposal “The Right Way” “There is a right way and wrong way to do this. This is the wrong way in the Democratic proposal. The Republican proposal is the right way.” [Floor Speech, 12/1/11]

…Minutes Before Thune Voted Against The Republican Plan. [Roll Call Vote 220, 12/1/11]

“This news is a reminder that we must continue using every tool at our disposal to get our economy growing and get Americans back to work. Too many families in Nevada and across America are struggling. One of the most effective things we can do for them is to put  more money in their pockets. Unfortunately, Republicans last night blocked a $1,500 tax cut for the middle class that would have spurred job creation. Republicans proved once again that the only tax cuts they will fight for are giveaways for millionaires and billionaires.

“Democrats will continue our focus on creating jobs. I hope Republicans will put politics aside and join us in fighting for the middle class.”