Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) released the following statement late Thursday night after he was forced to abandon a vote on an “omnibus” spending bill that would’ve funded federal government operation through the end of the 2011 fiscal year:
“The hypocrisy of my Republican colleagues caught up with them tonight. While publicly posturing for months against Congressionally-directed spending, many of them worked in private to secure funding for priorities in their states. And when they were exposed for trying to have it both ways, they pressured their colleagues who had previously supported this critical bill to pull their support at the last minute. Make no mistake: people will lose their jobs because of what my Republican colleagues did tonight.
“We cannot afford a government shutdown. In Nevada and across America, a government shutdown would mean no Social Security checks for seniors, no funding for schools, and no funding for border security. It is critical we do everything in our power to make sure that we keep our government operating. That is why I decided to move forward with a short-term Continuing Resolution. I will work with the Republican leader to finalize it in the coming days.
“In addition, I filed cloture on two important bills tonight. We will soon vote on a bill that provides young people brought here by their parents with a path to citizenship through academic achievement or military service. After that, we will vote to determine whether we follow the advice of our military leadership and repeal ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.’
“I am disappointed that the bipartisan efforts of Chairman Inouye and Ranking Member Cochran to put together a sensible, responsible funding bill have been hijacked by partisan politics. The American people deserve leaders who will put the best interests of their constituents ahead of political posturing.”