Reid Considering Senate Sessions the Week After Christmas
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) is considering bringing lawmakers back to Washington, D.C., the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to wrap up work on a health care reform bill, leadership aides said.A senior Democratic aide said that while “no decisions have been made— on the end-of-year schedule, Reid is keeping “on the table— the possibility of keeping the chamber in session the week of Dec. 28. Reid has already told Senators to prepare to work weekends up until Christmas to complete a health care bill. He is planning on keeping the chamber in session this weekend as well. The House and Senate traditionally adjourn for the year sometime before Christmas and return sometime in the following year. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Wednesday announced that the House would reconvene Jan. 12. Reid has yet to nail down next year’s schedule.Reid has issued threats of Saturday work days and recess-time sessions in the past. However, he has rarely made good on those warnings, instead using the threat as leverage to try to forge legislative deals.