Kasia Anderson — Harry Reid: Koch Bros. Are ‘Un-American’

This was not an off the cuff remark by Harry Reid, the consummate politician. Either the Koch Bros. are hurting Democrats, or the Democratic Party sees political capital in going after them.


The GOP has been attacking the Democrats as un-American and worse for some time. The Democrats have resisted taking the gloves off and responding in kind. Looks like that may be changing.

Truthdig
Harry Reid: Koch Bros. Are ‘Un-American’
Kasia Anderson

Brian Beutler — GOP will be dared to filibuster debt ceiling: Harry Reid makes his move

Today, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid made his move. He plans to introduce legislation to increase the debt limit, and dare Republicans to kill it with a filibuster.

But it won’t be a straightforward dollar increase or a time-limited borrowing authority extension. Reid will likely use a mechanism to allow the president to increase the debt limit on his own, subject to a veto-able resolution of disapproval by the Congress. In other words, the only way the debt limit won’t increase is if two-thirds of both the House and Senate feel it must be pulled back into the realm of legislative horsetrading — something that will never happen absent bipartisan agreement.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (of all people!) originally designed the scheme back in 2011, when Congress was desperately trying to escape its disastrous debt limit brinkmanship.

Democrats finally decide to play hardball.

Salon
GOP will be dared to filibuster debt ceiling: Harry Reid makes his move
Brian Beutler

David Lightman — Reid makes offer to Boehner to end shutdown

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered Wednesday to engage in negotiations over a long-term budget plan if House Speaker John Boehner allows the House of Representatives to vote on a government funding plan with no strings.

Boehner was not enthusiastic.

McClatchy
Reid makes offer to Boehner to end shutdown
David Lightman — McClatchy Interactive

Reid treats Boehner like a grown-up. Boehner reacts as a child.