The Senate reconvened today, and it is no secret that we have an ambitious list of issues to address in the coming weeks.  I delivered remarks today calling for bipartisan cooperation in an effort to complete our work.  So far this year the Senate has not lived up to the expectations of the American people, failing to accomplish even our most basic responsibilities.  As I point out in my remarks the GOP-controlled Senate erred when it failed to pass all of our spending bills by the end of the fiscal year.  Unfortunately, the Democrat-controlled Senate has done an even worse job and has only considered one of the 12 bills which much pass before October 1st.  I look forward to a renewed commitment to progress and an end to a permanent political season.