Reid wants tax deal in lame-duck

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said he hopes to reach a bipartisan deal on expired tax breaks during the lame-duck session.

“Over the next few weeks, Senate Democrats will work with Republicans to act on legislation that restores tax breaks to middle class families and small businesses, creates jobs and avoids another disastrous government shutdown,” Reid said Friday.

{mosads}Reid released his statement after the Bureau of Labor Statistics announced the economy had added more than 200,000 jobs in October and the unemployment rate had fallen to 5.8 percent.

Reid said the jobs report was positive but that Congress could still do more to help. Lawmakers have until the end of the year to decide which tax breaks they will extend into the next year.

Earlier this week, Republicans flipped enough seats to take control of the Senate in 2015. Reid said the midterm elections sent a clear message that the public was sick of partisan gridlock.

“Americans have spoken clearly: they want us to work together,” Reid said. “I look forward to working with Republicans to get things done for struggling middle class families.”