Reid says Senate peace pact expires

• Tweet

WASHINGTON, Oct. 18 (UPI) -- A gentlemen's agreement between Republicans and Democrats to keep the U.S. Senate running smoothly has ruptured, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday.

The majority leader blamed the new obstacles on Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell's publicly stated a goal of defeating President Obama next year, Roll Call reported.

"As a result of that [goal], we have not been able to do the government's business because everything that they can do to slow down government is something they believe will help them a year from now," Reid said.

"This is an important time in the history of our country to show the American people we can work together. I hope that in fact is the case because based on my experience at the beginning of this Congress where there was supposed to be a good-faith effort to return to regular order, it has not happened."

Reid, D-Nev., said on the Senate floor that Republicans rarely allow him to bring a bill up for debate without having to go through the process of overcoming a filibuster, Roll Call reported.

Reid said when he allowed an open amendment process on a small-business bill, Republicans killed it with amendments that kept it on the Senate floor for two months, and the bill had to be pulled.