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Opinion: Official peroration of Harry Reid upon Al Franken’s Senate arrival

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Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is quite pleased with the arrival of his party’s 60th vote that gives his party a filibuster-proof majority as long as nobody dies or Arlen Specter doesn’t change his mind again this week.

The Minnesota Supreme Court ruled on the long state recount, giving the Democrat a victory margin of 315 votes out of 2.9 million over incumbent Republican Sen. Norm Coleman.

But as great as the newly elected former Saturday Night Live comedian is already, the Nevada Democrat says the nation’s plethora of problems cannot be solved by Al Franken alone. ‘We will need more than just his presence to effectively address all of our nation’s challenges,’ Reid said Monday. (If you don’t believe it, see full text below.)

-- Andrew Malcolm

Statement by Sen. Harry Reid upon the arrival of Al Franken in the United States Senate on the 6th day of the seventh month in the Year of our Nationhood 233

I am pleased to welcome Senator-elect Al Franken to the United States Senate. Senator-elect Franken ran a hard-fought, issues-based campaign and I know he will work hard for the people of Minnesota. But don’t take my word for it. This is what former Republican Congressman Vin Weber had to say about our newest senator: ‘When people find out he’s a smart guy who is serious about issues and a hard worker, they will be very pleasantly surprised.’

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Much has been made of the expectations of Al Franken joining the United States. I expect Al to work hard for the people of Minnesota, who have gone far too long without full representation. I expect him to help deliver the change this country demands as we work to strengthen our economy, ensure all Americans can access and afford quality healthcare, and make our country more energy independent.

I am confident Senator-elect Franken will make a difference, but we will need more than just his presence to effectively address all of our nations challenges.

The challenges we face are not Democratic or Republican in nature. They are America’s challenges and they are too great to be solved by partisanship. Moving America forward will still require the cooperation and collaboration of Democrats and Republicans alike. The last eight years have shown us that the American people want us to work together. Democrats aren’t looking at Senator Franken’s election as an opportunity to ram legislation through the Senate.

In turn Senate Republicans must understand that Senator-elect Franken’s election does not abdicate them from the responsibility of governing. That is why we have and will continue to offer Senate Republicans a seat at the table. It is up to them to decide whether they will sit down and work for the common good or continue to be the Party of No.

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