House Republicans Sign Letter Calling Senator Reid to Pass a Bill or Step Down

Ninety House Republicans signed a letter calling on Senator Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to step down if he does not fulfill his responsibility as Majority Leader. The House of Representatives sent Senator Reid H.R. 1 46 days ago, yet he refuses to fund the government through Fiscal Year 2011.

The letter asks Senator Reid to reconsider his, “reckless, partisan strategy of shutting down the government,” and says “the American people deserve responsive leadership from those who are elected to higher office.”

The letter cites Senator Reid’s numerous failures and his unwillingness to accept responsibility for the current budget crisis. “Unfortunately, you have failed on numerous counts,” says the letter. “Under your stewardship, the Senate failed to pass a budget resolution last year, something that hasn’t happened since the current budget process was established in 1974. Mr. Reid, you also failed to pass one single appropriations bill to fund even a single federal agency, but yet you somehow muster the nerve to say Republicans are the problem.”

Congressman Rick Crawford (R-Ark.) authored the letter, which will be delivered today.

“The Senate Majority Leader is not living up to his title,” said Crawford. “He needs to lead so we can move our country forward. If he chooses not to lead then he needs to let someone else step into that role. We must act responsibly, fund our government, ensure our troops in the field are paid and the American people are protected. These are the priorities of the House, and they must be the priorities of the Senate.”

The full text is below:

Mr. Reid,

Many of us wrote last week pleading with you to bring a long-term continuing resolution before the full Senate that would fund government operations for the remainder of Fiscal Year 2011. We hand delivered the letter the 39th day after the House passed HR-1, its version of the FY 2011 yearlong continuing resolution that adhered to the calls of the American people pleading for reasonable, responsible spending cuts.

Unfortunately, another seven days have passed and your refusal to pass a bill means our Nation has moved one step closer to a government shutdown. Mr. Reid, your lack of action and absence of leadership is irresponsible. It has now been 46 days since the House of Representatives passed a bill that reduces the massive $1.4 trillion deficit for FY 2011 by a modest $61 billion.

Where is your bill, Mr. Reid?

We urge you to reconsider your reckless, partisan strategy of shutting down the government. If you will pass a bill, the House and Senate can meet in conference to reconcile any differences and then forward the final bill to President Obama.

The American people deserve responsive leadership from those who are elected to higher office. Unfortunately, you have failed on numerous counts. Under your stewardship, the Senate failed to pass a budget resolution last year, something that hasn’t happened since the current budget process was established in 1974. Mr. Reid, you also failed to pass one single appropriations bill to fund even a single federal agency, but yet you somehow muster the nerve to say Republicans are the problem. The ball is in your court to pass a long-term spending resolution for the remainder of FY 2011 that can be reconciled with the H.R. 1. With all due respect, if you do not plan to fulfill your responsibilities as Senate Majority Leader, perhaps it is time to step aside.

Mr. Reid, it is time to stop denying the dire straits of our nation’s fiscal health. It is time to pass a bill.

Bound together and determined,