Reid Still Strong On Public Option

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) Tuesday said that the public option will continue to be included in the Senate's health care reform legislation.

“We’re going to move forward, I believe strongly, with the public option,” said Reid. (0:23)
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Reid Says Senate Must Move On Public Option, Even Without Snowe's Support

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that the public option, saddled with a provision that will allow states to individually opt-out, will be included in the final draft of the Senate’s health care reform legislation.

Although Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine), the only Republican on the Senate Finance Committee to vote in favor of moving the legislation out of committee, does not support a public option, Reid stated that the Senate has to move on. The Majority Leader added that he hopes that Snowe and other Republicans will support health care reform after being given the chance to submit their own amendments. (0:24)

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Reid Backs Public Option With State Opt-Out Provision

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced Monday that the public option, saddled with a provision that will allow states to individually opt-out, will be included in the final draft of the Senate’s health care reform legislation.

“Under this concept states will be able to determine if the public option works well for them,” Reid said during a late afternoon press conference.
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Sen. Wyden Says He Will Support Majority Leader Reid On Health Care Reform

Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) says that he will continue to support Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the health care reform effort. Wyden says Reid has a long track record of attempting to hold insurance companies accountable. (0:19)
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Reid: Health Care Reform Like A Bridge Over Troubled Water

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) took Paul Simon's Capitol Hill appearance Wednesday as an opportunity to reference some selections from the prolific songwriter's catalogue, comparing the health care reform debate to a 1970's Simon and Garfunkel tune.

"If there were ever a time we have troubled waters, it's now," Reid said, referring to the song "Bridge Over Troubled Water." "If there were ever a bridge that we need over these troubled waters, it's passing comprehensive health care reform."

"If we could do that, we could really say we had diamonds on the soles of our shoes," Reid added. "Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes" appeared on Simon's 1986 album "Graceland." (0:14)

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Reid Could Support Insurance Co-ops

The Senate Finance Committee is pursuing a non profit insurance co-op as an alternative to a public option styled after Medicare, a plan Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) finds acceptable.

“If we can come up with a [co-op] that... makes more competition and makes insurance companies honest, I think it will fill the bill,” said Reid. (0:40)

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Health Care Is About The People Says Reid

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) explains that health care reform is not abstract, it's about the people. “Our opponents aren’t talking about the real families and the real problems these families have,” he says. (0:36)
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Franken Focuses On Being 2nd Senator From Minnesota, Not 60th Democrat In Senate

U.S. Senator-elect Al Franken (D-Minn.) comments on how his addition to the Senate will amount to 60 Democrats in the legislative body. However, he said he is focused on is "the number two” and primarily sees himself as the second Senator from the state of Minnesota. (0:12)

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Former GOP Rep. Says People Will Be Pleasantly Surprised By Franken

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tells reporters about a comment made by former U.S. Rep. Vin Weber's (R-Minn.) on Senator-elect Al Franken (D-Minn.). Weber says people will be pleasantly surprised when they realize Franken is a "smart guy" who is serious about issues. (0:23)
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Reid: Sotomayor's life experiences

By Courtney Ann Jackson-Talk Radio News Service

House Majority Leader Harry Reid discusses Sotomayor and how her life experiences will affect her opinions. (0:55)
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The Democrats Will Support Arlen Specter

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) talks with Ron Brownstein of the National Journal at a breakfast on Capitol Hill. Reid, President Barack Obama, and Vice President Joe Biden all said that they would personally support Arlen Specter in his 2010 election. Reid said that support was not conditional.

“I’m not going to be in a forever, never position, but the facts are that [Specter is] going to vote with us most of the time,” Reid Said. “I can’t foresee him doing anything that would be so mean spirited that Obama, Biden, and Reid would turn against him.” (00:44)
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Congressman Sestak On Arlen Specter

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico – Talk Radio News Service

Regarding Arlen Specter changing parties, Congressman Joe Sestak (D-Penn.) said that it's better for the constituents of Pennsylvania to decide which candidate should win the primary. He feels like the Democratic National Party backing Specter may be giving him too much of an advantage in the Pennsylvania primary. President Barack Obama and Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) have already committed to personally supporting Specter in his 2010 election. (00:47)
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Reid says that Smart Grid technology is important

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

While speaking in the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) emphasized the importance of developing a smart energy network to transmit renewable energy across the nation. (00:48).
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Reid: Renewable energy helps economy

By Michael Ruhl, University of New Mexico - Talk Radio News Service

While testifying before the Senate Committee on Energy & Natural Resources, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that renewable energy has been helping to stimulate the economy and create jobs. Reid said that these industries have thrived, but that assistance from the federal government is necessary for the country to reach its full energy potential. (01:40)
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Visitors benefit from Capitol Visitor Center

Sen. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) explains how visitors will benefit from the new Capitol Visitor Center. (1:40)
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"A wave of hope has swept this country"

Harry Reid speaks about the "mandate for change" that the voters issued on Election Day. (2:05)
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Harry Reid: A band of wicked men attacked America

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid speaks at the Sept. 11th remembrance ceremony on Capitol Hill while trying to recall the feelings of that day.
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Pakistan border security an everyday problem says Reid

During a conference call from the Middle East Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) says that while the Taliban activities have increased in Afghanistan so has the ability of the U.S. coalition to deal with them. He also speaks about the problems found in southern Afghanistan on the border with Pakistan where militants are able to cross into Afghanistan. (0:53)
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Reid: all the attention was diverted to Iraq

In a conference call with reporters, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said that the U.S. had a presence in Afghanistan after Sept. 11, 2001. He said that all the attention was diverted to Iraq and that Afghanistan might be better off had more attention been paid to that conflict. (0:28)
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American people ready for clean energy declares former President Clinton

Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) hosted a conference call on the upcoming National Clean Energy Summit which will be held at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in Mid-August. Reid said one only needs to look at a corner gas station to know that the energy crisis is serious. The summit on clean energy can lead to developments that are good for the economy, good for the environment, and good for jobs.

Dan Weiss, Senior Fellow and Director of Climate Strategy at the Center for American Progress, said the summit's goal is to develop a consensus on energy policies for the next President that participants can bring to their respective party conventions next month.

Former President Bill Clinton said the government needs to take a leading role in making a commitment to a national clean energy policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Clinton said he is particularly excited about the summit bringing together the leaders and the American community to solve the climate crisis. Reid said the American people are overwhelmingly supportive of renewable energy, and that he is aware that a "drill, drill, drill" policy will not make gas prices any lower. (23:33)
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