'I’m not afraid to take tough votes,' Sen. Begich says. Begich blasts Reid on amendments

Democratic Sen. Mark Begich publicly blasted Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Wednesday afternoon for limiting the Senate’s amendment consideration.

The Alaskan on Wednesday voted against advancing a Reid-backed bill aimed at cracking down on companies that exploit tax loopholes to outsource jobs. Begich supports that bill, but he expressed frustration with Reid for maneuvering to stymie amendment votes — the type of disagreement that’s usually kept private between members of the same party.


But Begich has been part of a working group of newer senators pushing leadership to allow more amendment votes. After voting against Reid’s bill, his office sent out a scathing critique of Democrats’ stewardship of the Senate with the headline: “Begich to Senate Democrats: Let’s Vote on Amendments.”

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“I’ve told Senator Reid more than once that we can’t keep up this gridlock of voting on final bills without considering amendments,” Begich said.

A Reid aide did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Begich is eyeing a difficult reelection campaign this November and has been ridiculed by Republicans for his inability to get votes on his amendment proposals once bills make it to the Senate floor. Reid frequently uses an arcane Senate procedure called “filling-the-tree” to prevent Republicans from getting votes on political amendments that attack Obamacare, undermine environmental regulations and approve the Keystone pipeline.

This maneuver shields Democrats up for reelection from tough votes on hot-button issues. But in limiting the GOP’s amendment consideration — as Reid has done repeatedly — Senate Democrats can become collateral damage as they too see consideration of their proposals limited.

Since the Democratic working group on amendments was established, there have been several small breakthroughs recently as senators have struck agreements to vote on amendments to transportation legislation and a terrorism insurance bill. But Begich has yet to experience any windfalls from this incremental progress — so he’s making his case against Reid’s procedural vice-grip in public, hoping to convince voters that he is also frustrated with how his party is governing.

“I chose to stand up to him today and voted against moving forward. I’m not afraid to take tough votes and I believe we should allow floor amendments to get things done around here,” Begich said on Wednesday.

Immediately after helping Senate Republicans vote down the tax bill, Begich turned around to support advancing Senate Democrats’ spending bills aimed at combating the crisis on the border. It’s not clear if Begich or any other lawmakers will be given the opportunity to amend that legislation, either.