Reid: Kennedy's Death Is 'Going to Help Us' in Health Care Debate
It's no secret that lawmakers on both sides of the aisle have been gauging how Sen. Edward Kennedy's death affects the health care debate.
But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave an unusually blunt assessment in an interview with a local newspaper.
"I think it's going to help us," the Nevada Democrat told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Democrats generally have used Kennedy's death as a rallying cry for health care reform, urging their colleagues to push through legislation that was Kennedy's life work. Republicans and Democrats have tried to shape the health care debate by speculating on how Kennedy would have wanted it handled.
But, aside from Reid, they've steered clear of saying outright whether Kennedy's death puts them up or down.
Reid made his comments Friday, the day before Kennedy was buried. He offered two reasons for the assessement. One, Kennedy's death clears the way for a new chairman on the Senate health committee. Two, Kennedy serves as an inspiration.
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But Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid gave an unusually blunt assessment in an interview with a local newspaper.
"I think it's going to help us," the Nevada Democrat told the Reno Gazette-Journal.
Democrats generally have used Kennedy's death as a rallying cry for health care reform, urging their colleagues to push through legislation that was Kennedy's life work. Republicans and Democrats have tried to shape the health care debate by speculating on how Kennedy would have wanted it handled.
But, aside from Reid, they've steered clear of saying outright whether Kennedy's death puts them up or down.
Reid made his comments Friday, the day before Kennedy was buried. He offered two reasons for the assessement. One, Kennedy's death clears the way for a new chairman on the Senate health committee. Two, Kennedy serves as an inspiration.