Senate GOP to Dems: We'll Block All Bills

All 42 Senate Republicans have signed a letter pledging to block all legislation during the lame-duck session until the Senate addresses the Bush-era tax cuts and funding the government—the latter of which must pass in order to prevent a shutdown of the government, MSNBC reports. This could spell disaster for the Dems’ fight against Don’t Ask Don’t Tell and their efforts to offer legal status to illegal immigrants who go to college or join the military, the AP notes.

“With little time left in this Congressional session, legislative scheduling should be focused on these critical priorities,” McConnell writes in a letter to Reid signed by all 42 members of the caucus. “While there are other items that might ultimately be worthy of the Senate's attention, we cannot agree to prioritize any matters above the critical issues of funding the government and preventing a job-killing tax hike.” (More Senate Republicans stories.)