Novak: Senate has declined under Reid

By Lisa Mascaro

Thursday, June 12, 2008 | 4:55 p.m.

WASHINGTON _ Columnist Robert Novak, who wrote two years ago that Sen. Harry Reid has dominated the Senate like no other minority leader since Lyndon B. Johnson, had a different take now that Reid has amassed a record as the majority leader.

Writing in today’s Washington Post, Novak outlined the “decline of the Senate under Reid,” using as exhibit A, Reid’s reliance on a procedural move to block Republican amendments from controversial bills.

True, Reid often does this. But this is one of those chicken-egg issues. Novak says the Senate has declined under Reid. But Democrats would argue that Reid is simply fighting fire with fire.

Republicans previously ran the Senate during such an era of escalating partisanship on the Hill that stateliness became sidelined. Often the amendments Reid blocks are toxic ones that seek to embarrass Democrats. Republicans say Democrats should have to face those tough votes. Democrats are using their majority power to say no way. Reid also uses the maneuver when he's had enough, as happened last week after Republicans forced a full, day-long reading of the 491-page climate bill.

Looking across this political landscape, it’s not so easy to say who is at fault.