Sen. Ron Wyden did not sound surprised by Minority Leader Harry Reid’s call Tuesday for him to slow down progress on Trade Promotion Authority legislation that was being marked up Wednesday afternoon.  

“Sen. Reid and I have talked often about this, and he’s already a straight-shooter. You know, he and I have been working together for over three decades,” the Oregon Democrat said of his colleague from Nevada. “Nancy and I are just very fond of Senator Reid and Landra.”  

Reid has “been very blunt with me,” said Wyden, the ranking member on the Finance Committee. One day earlier, Reid was similarly blunt with members of the media , telling reporters his longstanding opposition to fast track trade authority would continue.  

“Not only no, but hell no,” Reid said when asked for his position on the legislation. He said he’s asked Wyden for more time to “slow this thing down a little bit.”  

Related: 

Harry Reid a ‘Hell No’ on Obama’s Fast Track Push


Wyden Knows His Challenge on Trade: Fellow Democrats


A Ron Wyden Primary? Not Likely to Happen


The 114th: CQ Roll Call’s Guide to the New Congress


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