Reid to Colleagues: Clear Path to Adjournment
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) pleaded with his colleagues Thursday morning to help clear the logjams on a variety of bills if they want to adjourn by the end of next week.
With only one full week left before Congress is scheduled to break for the campaign season, Reid listed several to-dos, but said recess may not come as soon as planned if little gets done in the remaining days. Reid wants tax-extenders, the Coburn Omnibus, energy legislation, and a continuing resolution all completed by next Friday.
If we dont finish our work by next Friday or Saturday, … the following week is a Jewish holiday, Rosh Hashanah, which means we could have to come back the following Wednesday. So, I hope everyone understands how difficult this is, Reid said.
Reid tried to reach agreement with Sen. Tom Coburn on a package of bills that the Oklahoma Republican has been holding up, but they were unable to get a deal.
Reid and Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) are also seeking to move along the tax-extenders package, but the pathway for that measure remains unclear.
According to one GOP aide, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) is considering attaching storm relief aid for his state to the tax-extenders bill. Although no final agreement has been reached on either the storm package or tax extenders, the CR was thought to be the best vehicle for the relief aide, according to the aide.