Reid to Brown: “Work with us”

WASHINGTON -- Sen. Harry Reid said this morning he is reaching out to Scott Brown, the Republican who shook up Senate politics by prevailing in the Massachusetts special election on Tuesday.

Reid, the Senate majority leader, said he directed his executive assistant Janice Shelton to set up a phone call with Brown, who campaigned against the Democrats' health care bill and who gives the GOP caucus 41 votes, enough to filibuster Democratic initiatives if they so choose.

"I look forward to visiting with him," Reid said of Brown. "I look forward to welcoming him to the Senate and asking that he work with us."

Reid made a few references to the Massachusetts election during a 13-minute speech that opened the 2010 Senate session. He gave no clues as to how the Democrats might try to pass the health care bill given the sudden complications. With 41 votes, Republicans would be able to block the sweeping measure. Democrats were strategizing if or how they can get around the roadblock.

"Some elections go your way. Some elections go the other way," Reid said. "Regardless of the outcomes the American people demand we work together as partners, not partisans."

Reid noted today is the anniversary of President Barack Obama's inauguration. He said he was hopeful Republicans will be more cooperative with Democrats during this year than last year when major bills such as health care and the economic stimulus bill passed with little or no GOP support.

"We should be united within the walls of this chamber, not divided by the aisles that divide the desks," he said.

Several minutes later, Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky indicated the Republicans may have different ideas.

With Brown's victory, "Americans are electing good Republican candidates who they hope will reverse a year-long Democrat trend of spending too much, borrowing too much, and taxing too much," McConnell said in a speech.

 "The voters have spoken," McConnell said. "They want a course correction. We should listen to them."

Here are Reid's prepared remarks.

Here are McConnell's prepared remarks.