Senate majority leader Harry Reid (D., Nev.) faulted Republicans for gumming up his legislative schedule at a time when there are so many important issues for the Senate to vote on.
“We could be voting on issues critical to the middle class: pay equity; equal pay for men and women; Hobby Lobby; the minimum wage; and also, also, student debt,” Reid told reporters Tuesday, referring to issues that are crucial to the Democratic campaign platform this year.
Reid offered the list before heading to the White House to get a briefing on the Islamic State ahead of President Obama’s Wednesday address to the nation about the threat posed by the group.
Reid took a shot at Senate minority leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.) for saying that Congress should vote on whatever response Obama outlines.
“What he said says it all: ‘No matter what the president decides,’” Reid said. “I am going to do what I think is appropriate, and that is, get the facts.”
Senator Ted Cruz (R., Texas) and other Republicans called for Reid to allow a vote on the border-crisis bill written to prevent Obama from expanding his Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program.
“The question is, is there any hope of bringing the repeal of the Dreamers DACA up for a vote?” Reid said. “Well, if I have anything to do with it, no, no, no.”