Harry Reid Remains Power Player As Senate Shifts

Harry Reid has run the Senate with a tight hand: Using his prerogative as majority leader, he has rarely allowed votes on amendments to bills, even when proposals came from his own party.

A question now for Republicans taking over the Senate is whether Mr. Reid will try to be just as firm in the minority.

Early clues could come as soon as Wednesday, as senators return to Washington Wednesday for their lame-duck session, in which Mr. Reid appears to be willing to run the Senate floor with a looser hand. That posture, if it continues after the GOP takes the majority in January, c