Reid increased congressional budget to allow GOP to maintain its staff levels.
By on Feb 25th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Reid increased congressional budget to allow GOP to maintain its staff levels.
The Huffington Post reports that the congressional operations budget has been increased to $4.4 billion “because Senate Republicans wanted to retain previous staff levels” — despite losing 20 percent of their seats last year and railing against government spending recently. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) discussed the issue at a press conference today:
We had a situation — you should direct that question to Senator McConnell because we had trouble organizing this year. He wanted to maintain a lot of their staffing even though they had lost huge numbers. And the only way we could get it done is to do what we did.
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They need so much help reading the bills, maybe they really do need remedial staff.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pmWell Harry, you should watch your back bacause I would bet that will be coming back at you eventually.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:31 pmThe party of small govt strikes again!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:32 pmWasn’t this a point that some troll dropped in here a couple days ago? About how hypocritical the Democrats were for championing change and austerity when they were increasing the internal budget?
I wonder what that troll would say now?
Oh, wait. I assumed that a troll would actually look at a valid fact and let it register in what passes for a brain.
nevermind
February 25th, 2009 at 3:34 pmReid, what did you do a stupid thing like that for?!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pmWhat the hell are you thinking?
If the situation was reversed, you can bet your sweet ass the Rethugs would CUT, not increase Democratic staff levels.
Appoint Feingold!
Dump Reid!
Now THAT’S change I can believe in!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:35 pmThat’s it Harry.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:36 pmWith leaders like you who needs an opposition.
Geez.
The Republicans appear greedy!
February 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pmReid is such a weenie. give the republicans nothing harry. nothing.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:39 pmThe old do as I say not as I do Republicans are at it again. Yawn.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pmI’m sure Harry was just remembering back to 1994 how the Republican party was just as gracious to the Democrats even though the 1994 election had caused the Dem numbers to go way down.
What? The Republicans WEREN’T gracious in their victory?
February 25th, 2009 at 3:40 pmWith wingnut welfare going by the wayside in the private sector, centralizing is a great option for the country-destroying hotshots. How convenient for them.
It’s as if the small govt, fiscal responsibility, you’re-on-your-own doctrine was devised as a floor-wide rules committee for when dems are in power.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:44 pmHe wanted to maintain a lot of their staffing even though they had lost huge numbers. And the only way we could get it done is to do what we did.
Senator Reid, you said it yourself – “They lost huge numbers.” Elections have consequences, and the Republicans will have to accept that losing staff commensurate with the seats they lost in Congress is one of those consequences.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:46 pmIn the new big scheme of spending, whats a meager $4.4B. Just keep on spending what we don’t have guys !!! Cant Reid say NO ?
February 25th, 2009 at 3:47 pmThe Democratic controlled Senate is not only commiting suicide, but actually even going so far as to supply the knives to cut their own throats-sparing the Rethugs that expense.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:51 pmReading the article, Harry tried to AVOID the issue raised by the reporter! WTF? Christ he doesn’t have to make a song and dance about it, just relate the FACTS Harry, and a thus informed public will draw their own conclusions!
The story has been updated:
“Republicans aren’t getting a dime more in committee money for staff than we got last year.” is a Republican aide’s response.
Touche, brilliant Republican aide! EXCEPT that you aren’t getting LESS than last year EVEN THOUGH there are LESS REPUBLICANS to work for!!!
Why do they find simple math so difficult?
February 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pmAfter Reid stuck his nose so far up Lieberman’s behind that it came out a different color – nothing else he does – surprises me. It infuriates me, but doesn’t surprise me.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:55 pmPerhaps if they spent less time fundraising, they might be able to do the jobs they were elected to do.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:56 pmWhat the fork is with Reid? Can’t we get a Senate Majority Leader with some cojones? How about Webb of Virginia? I would love to see those republican fools smart off to him.
February 25th, 2009 at 3:57 pmAverage American Patriot Says:
Harry had no choice.
>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>
Of course he did. Your statement is dumb
February 25th, 2009 at 3:58 pm4.4 BILLION?!?!? How, pray tell, is that possible?
And consider this — that’s half the amount that the GOP is complaining about as being included in the stimulus for extended unemployment benefits . . .
Guess this is just unemployment insurance for their own. Hypocrites!
February 25th, 2009 at 4:02 pmTruly, a cornucopia of shame has been laid out by Republicans.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:05 pmThere goes that Republican fiscal responsibility again.
I second the Feingold nomination. Or Tom Harkin. Or Zuzu Bailey.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:08 pmEugene…just as you say,
And if Reid “didn’t have a choice” then why the EFF doesn’t he explain it? Instead he immediately defers to McConnell and thus gives HIM the chance to frame the issue according to his own interests.
Reid is clueless about his power, his responsibilities to his colleagues and the public, and clueless about politics.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:08 pmReid became Minority Leader in 2005, succeeding Tom Daschle and became somewhat famous for confronting the Republican majority and Bush. But once he became majority leader in Jan. of 2007, he seemed to have turned into the milquetoast we see in him today. His bark is still active (at least at times) but the dog has lost it’s teeth. I guess it was easy to be confrontational when he, as a Democrat, had no real power. But now that the Dems are in the complete majority in both the legislative and executive branches, he’s useless. Bottom line — he has no leadership skills. Absolutely pathetic.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:14 pm5th Estate Says:
Either clueless or spineless I guess it doesnt matter which, means the same outcome
February 25th, 2009 at 4:15 pmWhile I am loath to any excuse whatsoever for the despicable behavior of the repugs, I have to question the leadership of Harry Reid, as this report again indicates that the minority is domineering the majority.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:18 pm“He wanted to maintain a lot of their staffing even though they had lost huge numbers.”
That’s what HE WANTED, Harry, I have a suggestion for you..
FCUK THE REPUBLICANS
It’s easy and it’s fun.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:18 pmHarry Reid is absolutely worthless. How did he ever get into the Senate anyway?
I’ve seen better leadership on knothole baseball teams.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:26 pmReid is one very possible and frequent outcome of career politicians, regardless of party: consolidate power and resources for themselves, protect their own tribe. This is most true in the Senate, obviously, due to longer term limits, a more generalized accountablility on the other hand.
As a progressive, this is the exact issue we need to combat, as the Democrats have slowly wound their way to the center, if not the right of center.
Any ideas on how to make the Senate more directly accountable for their tribalism?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:29 pmAnd rethuglicans talk about pork? Shouldn’t this be considered pork?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:37 pmReid and Pelosi both are spineless rats and enablers of the Bush administration: “Impeachment is off the table” anyone?. Time to dump both of these worthless punks.
February 25th, 2009 at 4:40 pmAny of our more political savvy members have ideas for a plan to force Doesn’tRead and Peloser down from their positions?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:43 pmThis is Republican welfare, pure and simple.
The Repubs don’t need the staff — they lost 20% of their seats.
It would equally be true if the Dems had lost seats. This is not brain surgery…
February 25th, 2009 at 4:46 pmWhat dirt does the opposition have on read that makes him so very putty-like?
February 25th, 2009 at 4:50 pmReid, rather
February 25th, 2009 at 4:51 pmThose Republican Senators are just like those Catholic Priests:
Do as I say, not as I do, and do, and do,,,,
February 25th, 2009 at 5:31 pmPerhaps Reid would have more credibility if he weren’t going around touting Congress’ ability to pad the budget with earmarks, including these that he sponsored:
* 143,000, Las Vegas Natural History Museum (Reid)
Reid defends earmarks even though all of the presidential candidates ran against them. The budget has almost 8 billion dollars in earmarks. When you add that to the earmarks that carried over from late last year’s legislation, that’s about the same as the 2008 allocation. Sorry, but as a progressive, I cannot tolerate this foolishness. The economy is in the toilet. Unemployment is skyrocketing. Unemployment for blacks – especially young black men — is already through the roof — and both parties are wasting money: You Won’t Believe Your Eyes: Despite Anti-Earmark Fervor and Economic Crisis, Proposed Budget Would Fund Thousands of Pork Projects
February 25th, 2009 at 5:40 pmIf they don’t keep them as staffers, they’ll just head on over to K Street and try to become lobbyists. Which is more costly?
February 25th, 2009 at 6:41 pmSuch hypocrites! Always hollering about wasteful spending…
February 25th, 2009 at 7:57 pmI always wonder about LDS having something, … … … to do with Harry?
It has happened before in that religion and others as well.
February 25th, 2009 at 10:38 pm.
Whomever said (R)ushpublicans aren’t for big government…
… Simply are LIARS!
.
February 26th, 2009 at 1:36 am