The government needs to get serious about reform

In 2013, Democratic Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid along with New York Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand were correct when asking for a straight up or down vote to reopen the government and raise the debt limit. Buried within that bill, were numerous other amendments having nothing to do with reopening the government and raising the debt limit.  

It is an old Washington parlor trick to allow both senators and Congressmembers to amend basic bills with language that benefits their own special interests. It is horse trading between the leadership and members to obtain their votes for the basic bill they may not support. 

Today, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi have combined raising the debt limit with a $3.5 trillion spending bill. If Schumer and Pelosi were serious about reform in Washington, why not pass raising the debt ceiling with straight up or down vote without combining it with other legislation? 

Larry Penner, Great Neck, New York