By JM Rieger and Niels Lesniewski

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid struck an optimistic tone Tuesday discussing a reported House spending proposal to bundle 11 of the 12 regular spending bills for fiscal 2015 together with a shorter-term continuing resolution to fund the Department of Homeland Security. At his weekly news conference, the Nevada Democrat said while such a bill would be a “big accomplishment,” it would be “unfortunate” to not include funding for the DHS. “I’m doing everything I can to help the Republican leaders accomplish what I believe they say publicly and privately what they want, and I hope they’ll say yes for an answer,” Reid said, while warning against listening to “extremists” on the GOP side. He did note that Democrats need to see what policy riders appear before giving the spending package his blessing.