As Crises Mount, Senate Democrats Turn To 'Futile' Legislative Gambit With 'Absolutely Zero Chance Of Passing'; Culmination Of Election-Year Strategy

Despite 'Crisis Everywhere,' Senate Dems' Agenda 'All About The Campaign'

"Even a dysfunctional Congress can't ignore the issues that piled up during the five-week recess: an emboldened Russia, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq, calls for a tougher approach to Syria and an insurgent militant group responsible for beheading two American journalists. There are also plenty of domestic issues awaiting congressional attention…" ("Ugly Summer Hounds Congress," Politico, 9/7/14)

• "…The World Is Spinning Into Crisis Everywhere: Israel vs. Hamas. Ukraine vs. Russia. Unaccompanied minors at the Texas border. Syria in flames, with a militant 'caliphate' at the door. Iran stalling for time on nukes. A rising China sowing fear throughout the rest of Asia." ("Why The World Is Spinning Into Crisis Everywhere," Huffington Post, 7/23/14)

"What is striking about the coming session is that Reid has decided to devote as much as half of the Senate's precious time in Washington to a measure that has no chance — absolutely zero chance — of passing." ("Harry Reid's Anti-Koch Crusade Eats Up Precious Senate Time," The Washington Examiner, 9/1/14)

• "Reid planned a test vote Monday on a symbolic but futile attempt to amend the Constitution to give Congress the power to set stricter limits on campaign cash." ("Summer Break Over, Must-Do Tasks Await Congress," AP, 9/8/14)

• "Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev. … is planning to adjourn the Senate by Sept. 23 after dispensing with the spending measure and holding votes — destined to lose — on Democratic planks such as raising the minimum wage and block the flow of unlimited, unregulated campaign cash from the wealthy..." ("Congress Coming Back, Must Act To Avoid Shutdown," AP, 9/7/14)

• "…the Senate's brief two weeks in Washington are all about the campaign to come." ("Harry Reid's Anti-Koch Crusade Eats Up Precious Senate Time," The Washington Examiner, 9/1/14)

Flashback: Reid Asks Campaign Committee To 'Come Up With An Agenda'

SEN. HARRY REID (D-NV): "I asked Senator Schumer and Senator Stabenow to work with others, including the political arm, the DSCC, to come up with an agenda for us. And they did a wonderful job." (Sen. Reid, Press Conference, 3/26/14)

Republicans: Work With Us To 'Help … Americans Out'

SEN. MITCH MCCONNELL (R-KY): "… [A]t a time when millions of Americans are unemployed, middle-class families struggle each month just to pay the bills, the government is failing our veterans and serious crises overseas only seem to grow worse by the day, Democratic leaders shouldn't be focused on legislative show-votes … Instead, they should work with Republicans to help these Americans out." (Sen. McConnell, "The Democrats' Assault On Free Speech," Politico, 9/8/14)

REP. JOHN BOEHNER (R-OH): "In the last year and a half, the House has passed more than 40 bills aimed at creating jobs, supporting wage earners, and easing the financial pains that working families all over America are suffering with in President Obama's economy. Where are these bills now? They are stuck in the Senate. Why they are stuck, is a question for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid." (Rep. Boehner, "Speaker Boehner: Our Economic Recovery Is Stuck In The Senate," Time, 9/8/14)