Harry Reid stated Tuesday that he places government spending, taxes, and immigration reform as objectives for this congressional term.
Reid, the current Senate Majority Leader said that he would be willing to compromise with Republicans in order to achieve these goals. On a Nevada television program, Reid said that tax reform “certainly needs to be done this Congress,” adding “We need to go back to a flatter tax.”
Tax and spending reform have been considered topics where agreement is possible between Obama, the Democratic-led Senate, and the Republican-held House.
Reid also said that spending cuts need to happen across the board. “It’s not only domestic, discretionary spending that we have to something about,” said Reid, adding that the budgets for Medicare, Medicaid, and Defense should be viable options. “We cannot sustain the spending of this country. We have to get it under control. We cannot end up like Greece, or like Ireland, and default on our debt.”
Reid also plans on making another attempt on immigration reform, regardless of the failure of the DREAM Act during the lame-duck Congress. Now, Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) with other lawmakers has shown interest in reforming immigration laws after U.S. boarders have been secured. However, the Republican House could prove troublesome for bills that offer what conservative politicians may believe “amnesty” for illegal immigrants.
Regardless, Reid remains optimistic. “I think the answer is unequivocally yes, I think we can get something done,” said the Senator. He also maintains that immigration reform is a thing of the present stating, “The tide is turning on this. This is not something that is going to be a lost program; we’re going to get this done.”
Read more at Reid: Taxes, spending and immigration reform top Senate agenda →
