Reid irked House taking weekend off while Senate toils on debt
WASHINGTON -- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, who is keeping senators working through this weekend on debt legislation, is irked the U.S. House is not doing the same.
"Let me get this off my chest," Reid, D-Nev., said Thursday morning after he learned that House Republican leaders had ruled out Saturday and Sunday sessions.
"I think this is a very bad picture for our country to have the House of Representatives out this weekend," Reid said. "I think it is just untoward and that is the kindest word I can say."
With Congress hurtling toward an Aug. 2 deadline by which the Treasury Department says it will run out of money to pay bills, "I want everyone who can hear my voice to understand that time is of the essence," Reid said.
Most proposals to raise the limit on the government's borrowing powers also involve taking long-term steps to attack red ink by cutting spending, raising revenues and making changes in entitlement programs.
Reid noted revenue bills must originate in the House under the Constitution, so "we have to wait for (the House) to send us something."
In an email late Wednesday, House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., told lawmakers the House would not be in session this weekend and this week's business should wrap up by 3 p.m. Friday.
As for next weekend, Cantor said Saturday and Sunday work "is a distinct possibility and members are advised to make their travel plans flexible."
Republicans say that talks on debt legislation has been limited to their top leaders and they have nothing new ready to take to the floor. Leaders reportedly are mulling a package of $1.5 trillion in spending cuts that might be attached to a debt bill.
The Senate began debate Thursday on a Republican debt plan on which Reid said he wanted to vote on Saturday if not soon.
The so-called "cut, cap and balance" proposal passed the GOP-controlled House this week, but Reid said it "doesn't have one chance in a million of passing the Senate."
Contact Stephens Washington Bureau Chief Steve Tetreault at stetreault@stephensmedia.com or 202-783-1760.
