Harry Reid: “there is a lot going on as to whether the port deal is there or not there. We have to wait and see what really is going…”

“there is a lot going on as to whether the port deal is there or not there. We have to wait and see what really is going to happen. I want everyone to understand how we got to where we are today, how we got to this cloture vote. It is fair to say the minority, the Democrats, forced the debate on ethics reform with the legislation we introduced, the Honest Leadership Act. We did that in January. If it were not for us, I don't believe the Senate would be even talking about Government reform this week--maybe sometime in the future. We pushed this and pushed it hard. Regardless of what happens today, Democrats are committed to seeing this legislation through. We are going to complete lobbying reform legislation, and on my side I am committed to ensuring we do that. The Senate has to be able to do two things at one time. We can handle the vote on the Dubai port situation and we can vote on honest leadership amendments. Historically, this body has been able to do both; that is, conduct its day-to-day business and address critical national security issues when they arise. That is all we are asking we do now. Democrats believe it is important that we clean up what is in Washington with the lobbying, and we have heard the floor managers agree with me, but we also understand it is just as important that we stop a foreign government with connections to terrorism, which I will talk about in a minute, and even nuclear proliferation, from taking control of our ports.…”