AP Photos Reid applauds Paul on voting rights

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid offered high praise on Tuesday for an unusual target: Sen. Rand Paul.

The top Democrat applauded the move from the Kentucky Republican senator this week to introduce legislation that would restore voting rights to nonviolent felons in federal elections.


During a speech on the Senate floor Tuesday morning, Reid recalled that he introduced a measure similar to Paul’s proposal about 15 years ago.

“I went a little further than that with mine, but I so appreciate his suggestion, and I’ll have more to say about that later,” Reid said on the floor. “And I hope I don’t get him in trouble with his Republican caucus for congratulating him on this.”

In his public congratulations to Paul, Reid said the move to restore voting rights for such individuals was “long overdue.”

“As a country, we should allow people who have served their time, who have served their penance or however you want to state it, they should at least be able to vote,” Reid said. He added that he will have more to say on the issue later Tuesday.