Sen. Harry Reid

Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and Sen. Charles Schumer, D-N.Y. Reid said today that he won't seek re-election in 2016, adding he wants Schumer to succed him as the Democratic leader in the Senate. Molly Riley/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada (left) talks with Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky. The two Senate leaders were on opposite sides of a proposed constitutional amendment to limit fundraising and spending in campaign politics. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a Democrat from Nevada. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images hide caption

Democrats say they're focused on the Koch brothers because, they allege, Republican candidates are doing the billionaires' bidding. Republicans say Democrats are desperate. David Koch (above) is chairman of Americans for Prosperity. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid faces reporters on Capitol Hill in Washington on March 11, following a caucus lunch. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., faces reporters at the Capitol after bipartisan Senate opposition blocked swift confirmation for President Barack Obama's choice to head the Justice Department's Civil Rights division on March 5. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of Nevada talks about unemployment benefits during a news conference Thursday. Susan Walsh/AP hide caption

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., cited the bad December jobless numbers as a reason Congress should extend federal unemployment insurance. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

Democratic Sens. Charles Schumer, Harry Reid and Richard Durbin (from left) speak after Senate Democrats voted to take the bite out of the filibuster. J. Scott Applewhite/AP hide caption

On June 4, President Obama introduces his nominees to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit: from right, Patricia Ann Millett, Cornelia T. L. Pillard and Robert L. Wilkins. Mark Wilson/Getty Images hide caption

With the shutdown-debt ceiling fight over, Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, appeared to strengthen his hand within the House GOP caucus but weaken it outside that group. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

President Obama and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., shared the same goals but had notable stylistic differences in their approaches to the fiscal fight. Carolyn Kaster/AP hide caption

Wisconsin Rep. Paul Ryan, the House Budget Committee chairman, walks to a GOP meeting Tuesday. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

House Speaker John Boehner shows his softer side Thursday before resuming his tough guy role in the fiscal fight. Evan Vucci/AP hide caption

David Koch addresses attendees of the Defending the American Dream Summit in Orlando, Fla., on Aug. 30. Phelan M. Ebenhack/AP hide caption

People who for years had planned to be boating down the Colorado River in the Grand Canyon right about now instead found themselves on Saturday camping in a parking lot because of the government shutdown. Julie Jacobson/AP hide caption

Anti-shutdown protesters in Los Angeles may have had enough of the budget crisis, but it appears to be far from over. Jae C. Hong/AP hide caption

Veterans who came to Washington Tuesday to see the World War II memorial on the National Mall were able to complete their visit, although the memorial — like other federal museums and memorials — was officially closed to the public. Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images hide caption

A sign announces the closing of the Statue of Liberty on Tuesday. Mark Lennihan/AP hide caption