Senate off to slow start

After spending three weeks negotiating operating rules and setting committee assignments for the new year, the U.S. Senate finally is ready to begin work. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid is preparing to bring up a federal aviation policy bill this week.

But in the meantime, Politico this morning analyzed the Senate’s notoriously slow start, “and it doesn’t look like (Reid) is looking to step up the pace anytime soon.”

“Part of Reid’s strategy is substantive – there’s no reason for Senate Democrats to pass an ambitious agenda that’s dead on arrival in a divided Congress, and the chamber still is weary from two years of major policy combat….”

“But more important, the entire Senate agenda under Reid over the nex two years has to be about protecting the majority – and the 23 Democratic seats up for grabs in 2012,” Politico said. “Those Democrats, some from GOP-leaning states, want to face as few tough votes going into next year’s campaign cycle.”