Harry Reid Quotes on Government (35 Quotes)

Last year, Congress overwhelmingly called on President Bush to make 2006 a year of significant transition to full Iraqi sovereignty. The domestic public relations campaign waged by the White House and the new round of presidential speeches does not advance that goal.

a champion for the underdog who was the same kind, gracious man no matter how far he rose in Congress and in life.

Never has the need for an independent and thorough investigation into the government failures surrounding Hurricane Katrina been more plainly demonstrated than today. Two Republican investigations into Katrina have been completed. Two reports have been issued. It is now apparent that both have only scratched the surface. This administration has a lot to answer for, and America must learn the truth.

It's a program where the lobbyists paid and Republican members of Congress played.

We're a government of laws, not men. It is not for George W. Bush to disregard the Constitution and decide that he is above the law.

I was kind of upset. He's blaming all this on Congress, and then he has the audacity to say what limited money he's helped us get, put it all on Louisiana. That's not fair. I'm very, very disappointed.

He has all the talents I don't have, ... Dick Durbin is the best debater in the Senate. He's unquestionably the best. On the most difficult issues, you send Durbin to the floor. He's the first person I turn to for advice.

An investigation of the Republican administration by a Republican-controlled Congress is like having a pitcher call his own balls and strikes.

Now that the president has said he will nominate Judge Roberts as chief justice, the stakes are higher and the Senate's advice and consent responsibility is even more important, ... The Senate must be vigilant.

Congress has an immediate opportunity to pass legislation enabling both companies to keep pension plans for workers in place.

We always said that we would accept a short-term extension to give negotiators time to get the final bill right. We will use the extension to seek a Patriot Act that gives the government the tools it needs to fight the terrorists, while still protecting the rights of innocent Americans.

The failure of the White House to produce relevant documents is reason enough for any senator to oppose this nomination. The administration cannot treat the Senate with such disrespect without some consequences,

The majority leader should put his sword back in its sheath and let the Senate move forward on this nomination without idle threats,

Out of respect for the memory of Chief Justice Rehnquist and in fairness to those whose lives continue to be devastated by Katrina, the Senate should not commence a Supreme Court confirmation hearing this Tuesday. A brief postponement will not disadvantage anyone,

In the past year, Americans have been shocked and some certainly disgusted by revelations of corruption to our system. It has shaken public confidence in the Congress and our entire federal government.

Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid said Tuesday that he would oppose the nominee but would not mount a filibuster to prevent his confirmation. In the fullness of time, he may well prove to be a fine Supreme Court justice, ... But I have reluctantly concluded that this nominee has not satisfied the high burden that would justify my voting for his confirmation based on the current record.

This is a power play.... When you have all three branches of government controlled by the Republicans, you wind up with stuff like this, which is simply a misuse of power.

Let's have a real investigation and a vote here in the Senate. What the president has agreed to is no review.

This bill is not perfect. But it is a significant improvement over current law, and will help restore the public's confidence in government.

If the speaker and the majority leader in the Senate are interested in this, they should join with us in getting to the bottom of what went on in bringing this country to war,

It's long past time the Senate addressed the record high prices consumers have faced the past months. While oil companies have reaped record profits, middle-class families have been left wondering whether anyone had noticed.

I hope the president and his administration will act swiftly to provide the Congress with damage assessments so that we can provide immediate relief to the people of the Gulf Coast. We must not waste any time in giving these families the resources they need.

Minority Whip Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nevada) said calling witnesses would extend the trial out unnecessarily. They're talking about bringing Monica Lewinsky in. And what is the dispute Both sides agree the dispute is as to whether or not the president touched her, or what time the relationship started, ... We don't need to get into this. This is something the American people, and frankly the Senate, is sick of.

This is unacceptable. I join my Democratic colleagues in demanding that these oil executives by brought back to the Congress, sworn in, and forced to testify again about their involvement with Vice President Cheney's secretive energy task force and all of the issues covered in the hearing,

To try to limit debate on this most important matter that Senator Feingold is trying to put before the Senate is not appropriate.

If the rights of the minority are to be preserved, if the Senate is to be preserved as the greatest of parliamentary bodies, it would take at least six Republicans standing up for fairness and checks and balances,

I demand on behalf of the American people that we understand why these investigations aren't being conducted, ... and in accordance with Rule 21, I now move that the Senate go into closed session.

I join my Democratic colleagues in demanding that these oil executives be brought back to Congress, sworn in and forced to testify again.

People in Nevada know me from the street to the ring to the Senate chambers. I've never had to prove my manhood to anyone.

While the Bush administration continues to stonewall the Congress from finding the truth about the manipulation of prewar intelligence, Democrats will continue to press for a full airing of the facts.

The president has made his choice, ... Now the Senate will do its job of deciding whether to confirm John Roberts to a lifetime seat on the Supreme Court.

The nation is already reeling from the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, and the Senate should focus its immediate attention on helping the victims of that tragedy. The death of Chief Justice Rehnquist presents an additional reason to adjust the schedule.

I urge the White House to reconsider this initial decision, and to work cooperatively with Judiciary Committee Democrats so that the Senate can do its job more effectively,

I intend to cast my vote against the nomination when the Senate meets here next week,

Several Senate Democrats said Roberts should receive greater scrutiny for chief justice. The stakes are higher and the Senate's advice-and-consent responsibility is even more important, ... The Senate must be vigilant in considering this nomination.