Reid would be 'dumbfounded' if GOP blocked cybersecurity bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday said he would be "dumbfounded" if Republican members blocked cybersecurity legislation from moving to the floor for debate.

Responding to whether he had the 60 votes needed to consider Sen. Joe Lieberman's (I-Conn.) cybersecurity bill, Reid said he didn't know, but noted "we have a good count of Democrats."

Reid added that former Republican defense officials have told him "it's the most important issue since the nuclear age began," and he committed to allowing consideration of amendments relevant to cybersecurity.

"I've said many, many times, amendments will be allowed that are relevant to this issue. There's no reason we can't have a debate on this," Reid told reporters. "So if [Republicans are] going to stop this, I am dumbfounded why."

Reid said the Senate has to act now on cybersecurity legislation to address the escalating cyberthreat the United States faces. He is expected to move to the cybersecurity bill later this week after the Senate wraps up votes on tax cut extensions.

"Unless we do something, it's not a question if there's going to be an attack that will be successful. The only question is when it will be," he said. "So that's why we have to do this."

The Aspen Institute's Homeland Security Group — which includes former Bush-appointed defense officials Michael Chertoff and Michael Hayden as members — urged the Senate on Tuesday to vote this week to take up the cybersecurity bill for debate on the floor.