Reid: I Won't Be Obama Rubber Stamp

Senate majority leader vows Congress won't just be Obama's rubber stamp

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Jan 7, 2009 8:45 AM CST

(Newser) – The 111th Congress is going to be a lot more than just a rubber stamp for Barack Obama's policies, Harry Reid tells the Hill. The Senate majority leader says Democrats must take care to avoid over-reaching. "If Obama steps over the bounds, I will tell him," the Democrat says. "I do not work for Barack Obama. I work with him.”

Reid aims to build bipartisan consensus and to restore to the legislative branch some of the power sapped from it by the aggressive Bush White House. "I don't believe in the executive power trumping everything," he says. "I believe in our Constitution, three separate but equal branches of government.” To keep the separation clear, Reid says, Joe Biden won't be allowed to sit in on Senate policy lunches the way Dick Cheney was.

[Images (3)]

[Quotes (1)]

Barack Obama, center, walks with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nev., left, and Vice-President elect Joe Biden, right, following a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)

Senate Majority leader Harry Reid, right, with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi speak during a news conference following their meeting with Barack Obama on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

President-elect Barack Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., walk to a meeting on Capitol Hill in Washington, Monday, Jan. 5, 2009. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

Do you know the complaints I’ve gained from Democrats now? They’re all jammed in there. They don’t have any room—the seats are too close together.
- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

To report an error on this story, notify our editors.

More Newser Stories

Bad News for Dems? Ben Nelson Retiring

Nebraska seat could shift to Republicans in Senate

(NEWSER) - Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson won't seek reelection next year, potentially harming Democratic hopes to hold onto the Senate majority, Politico reports. Though Nelson's approval ratings had struggled, they were on the rise this year, thanks in part to $1 million in national Democratic Party advertising. Meanwhile, Republicans spent hundreds of thousands criticizing Nelson's record, focusing on his support for health care reform. Analysts are mixed on the impact of the decision. More»

Boehner Cancels Payroll Vote

House Republicans revolt, call for conference committee

(NEWSER) - House Republicans didn’t hold their expected vote on the Senate’s two-month payroll tax cut extension last night, a hairpin turn so abrupt that Politico ’s story on it is headlined, “Has John Boehner Lost Control?” The House had planned to vote down the Senate bill and push for a full-year extension, but members objected that doing so would compromise their pledge against voting for tax hikes. Instead, the House will hold a procedural vote this morning to send the matter into a conference committee with the Senate. More»

Senate Votes Down Reid's Plan

But real deal is still being worked on

(NEWSER) - As expected, the Senate voted today not to move forward with Harry Reid's debt ceiling proposal in a 50-49 vote. The Wall Street Journal notes that the vote was "anti-climactic," since the real work on hammering out a deal by the end of the day is happening behind the scenes between the White House and House and Senate leaders. Following the vote, Reid told senators to take a break. Although he didn't offer a timetable for when to expect a vote on a new deal, he cheekily said he wouldn't recommend anyone go off to a ball game. More»

Sign of Hope? Harry Reid Postpones Debt Vote

It's now scheduled for Sunday afternoon as talks intensify

(NEWSER) - It's either a sign that a last-minute deal is truly in sight or one last tease: Harry Reid has postponed a 1am procedural vote on his plan to raise the debt ceiling until tomorrow afternoon, reports the Hill . Reid says the delay is intended to give negotiations with Republicans under way at the White House more time to play out. The Senate majority leader, who didn't appear to have the 60 votes necessary to prevail anyway, says the postponement came at the request of the White House because the talks were making progress. More»

Tit for Tat: House Rejects Reid Plan

Mitch McConnell, meanwhile, says it's doomed in the Senate

(NEWSER) - It's Harry Reid's turn to hit legislative turbulence. The House today rejected the Senate leader's plan to raise the debt ceiling in a move seen largely as symbolic, reports AP . The real fight, however, is taking place in the Senate, where GOP Minority Leader Mitch McConnell delivered a letter to Reid signed by 43 Republicans vowing to oppose his plan when it comes up for a vote set for 1am EST Sunday. Those numbers guarantee that Reid would not be able to fend off a filibuster, reports the Washington Post . More»

NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS

More from Slate »

WATCH: Chainsaw-Wielding Thug Attacks Pub Crawlers

Man Allegedly Steals Woman's Underwear, Then Sends Taunting...

Fart Joke Leads To Bomb Scare, Arrest

More from HuffPost Weird »

Presenting: All The Gadgets You Need To Live A Healthier...

13 Detroit Houses You Can Buy For Less Than $100

Sorry, Google Plus: Google Uses Facebook To Tease Product...

More from Business Insider »

REMEMBERING WHITNEY

Whitney Houston (1963-2012): I Know Why the American...

I Will Always Love You

More from HuffPost Entertainment »

10 things you need to know today: February 12, 2012

10 things you need to know today: February 11, 2012

Will money trouble sink Newt Gingrich's campaign?

More from The Week »

Insider Leaking Shareholder Voting Data to Companies for...

Mitt Romney Wins in Maine, But Ron Paul Thinks He'll Still...

Martha Stewart Will Not Be Pushed Around

More from Daily Intel »

Predictions for 2012 NFL Rookie Class

CFB Teams That'll Be Aching for Their 2011 QBs

Power Ranking Every CFB Head Coach Going into 2012

More from Bleacher Report »

New Reports On Death of Whitney Houston, Prescription Drugs...

Britney Spears & More Share Favorite Whitney Houston Songs...

Jennifer Hudson to Perform Whitney Houston Tribute At 2012...

More from Celebuzz »

Whitney Houston Dies and Cruel Celeb Death Rumors Follow

Jennifer Hudson's Tribute to Whitney Houston Will Break...

House That Uses 'Zero Energy' Is Super Cute Too

More from The Stir »

The Week on AdFreak: Feb. 3-10, 2012

Trending Topics 02 13 12

Mini Cooper Selects Semifinalists

More from Adweek »

About Us

What is Newser?

What Newser Does

Who's Behind Newser?

6 Myths About Newser

What People Are Saying

Contact Us

Advertise on Newser

Site

Help

How Do I Use Newser?

Why Should I Register?

Terms of Use

Privacy Policy

Suggest a Story

Newser By Users

Writer Central

How to Write a Summary

How to Get Your Summary Promoted

NBU Forum

Community

Discuss on Facebook

Social Networks

Site Maps

Story Index

User Story Index

Top Sources

Tools

RSS

Mobile

More News

AP News Wire

What is Newser?

Face it: there's too much news. At Newser, we choose the most thought-provoking and entertaining stories from hundreds of US and international sources and reduce them to a headline, picture, and two paragraphs. And we do it 24/7—you can come back morning, noon, night (and in between) for something new that matters. Read less, know more.

Learn more »

© 2012 Newser, LLC. All rights reserved.

Partnering with: Slate

View Newser on the mobile website

Reid: I Won't Be Obama Rubber Stamp