Harry Reid – The Bill Stops Here

A shell game, led by Harry Reid, has been going on for quite some time in the U.S. Senate. The game goes something like this: Overload incoming bills from the house with amendments, and then stop the bill from coming to a vote because of supposed problems with the bill.

The recent jobs bill is a prime example. Republican Senate leader Mitch McConnell asked for unanimous consent to proceed on voting on the bill. Reid, who has struggled to find enough votes for the bill in the Democratic caucus, objected to the motion and killed the opportunity for a vote.

To make matter more interesting, President Obama was in Dallas the same day urging Americans who support the American Jobs Act to demand that Congress pass it already. After that, the Obama campaign sent out an email calling on supporters to push Congress to at least vote on the president’s jobs bill. The following email was sent by Jim Messina, Obama’s 2012 campaign manager was emailed to supporters just minutes after fellow Democrat Reid killed opportunity for the bill to be voted on:

Though it’s been nearly a month since he laid out this plan, House Republicans haven’t acted to pass it. And House Majority Leader Eric Cantor is out there actually bragging that they won’t even put the jobs package up for a vote — ever.

It’s not clear which part of the bill they now object to: building roads, hiring teachers, getting veterans back to work. They’re willing to block the American Jobs Act — and they think you won’t do anything about it.

It is doubtful the Obama campaign asked supporters to call out Harry Reid and “demand” he and Senate Democrats pass the bill. Because the media plays right into their hands, why should they? For Harry Reid and President Obama it’s the best of both worlds. This way they can appear to be champions of the people by appearing to combat the “do nothing” Republican Congress knowing all the time Reid has no intention of allowing meaningful votes on anything Congress sends his way.

Lest anyone think this is an isolated case of Senator Reid blocking votes coming to the floor in the senate, consider the following list. There are eighteen jobs creation bills passed by the House still sitting on Harry Reid’s desk.

Empowering Small Business Owners and Reducing Regulatory Burdens

H.R. 872, the Reducing Regulatory Burdens Act
• Introduced by Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH) on March 2, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 292-130 on March 31, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 910, the Energy Tax Prevention Act
• Introduced by Rep. Fred Upton (MI) on March 3, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 255-172 on April 7, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 37, a Resolution of disapproval regarding the FCC’s regulation of the Internet and broadband industry practices
• Introduced by Rep. Greg Walden (OR) on February 16, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 240 to 179 on April 8, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2018, the Clean Water Cooperative Federalism Act
• Introduced by Rep. John Mica (FL) on May 26, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 239 to 184 on July 13, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 1315, Consumer Financial Protection & Soundness Improvement Act
• Introduced by Rep. Sean Duffy (WI) on April 1, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 241-173 on July 21, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2587, Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act
• Introduced by Rep. Tim Scott (SC) on July 19, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 238-186 on September 15, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2401, Transparency In Regulatory Analysis Of Impacts On The Nation
• Introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (OK) on June 24, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 249-169 on September 23, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2681, Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act
• Introduced by Rep. John Sullivan (OK) on July 28, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 262-161 on October 6, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2250, EPA Regulatory Relief Act
• Introduced by Rep. Morgan Griffith (VA) on June 21, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 275-142 on October 13, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2273, Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act
• Introduced by Rep. David McKinley (WV) on June 22, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 276-144 on October 14, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

Fix The Tax Code To Help Job Creators:

H.R. 674, 3% Withholding Rule Repeal
• Introduced by Rep. Wally Herger (CA) on February 11, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 405-16 on October 27, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

Increase Competitiveness for U.S. Manufacturers:

H.R. 1904, Southeast Arizona Resource Utilization & Conservation Act
• Introduced by Rep. Paul Gosar (AZ) on May 13, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 235-186 on October 26, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

Encourage Entrepreneurship and Growth:

H.R. 2433, Veterans Opportunity to Work Act
• Introduced by Rep. Jeff Miller (FL) on July 7, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 418-6 on October 12, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

Maximize Domestic Energy Production To Ensure An Energy Policy For The Twenty-First Century:

H.R. 1230, Restarting American Offshore Leasing Now Act
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 266-149 on May 5, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 1229, Putting the Gulf of Mexico Back to Work Act
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 263-163 on May 11, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 1231, Reversing President Obama’s Offshore Moratorium Act
• Introduced by Rep. Doc Hastings (WA) on March 29, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 243-179 on May 12, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 2021, the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act
• Introduced by Rep. Cory Gardner (CO) on May 26, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 255-166 on June 22, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date

H.R. 1938, North American-Made Energy Security Act
• Introduced by Rep. Terry Lee (NE) on May 23, 2011
• Passed the House by a vote of 279-147 on July 26, 2011
• Senate has taken no action to date