–Senate Majority Leader Opens Week With Sharp Words For GOP
–Says Republicans ‘Have Kept The Senate From Working’
–Time To ‘Roll Up Sleeves,’ Not ‘Dig In Heels’

By John Shaw

WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid began the week
in a combative fashion, blasting Republicans for spending much of the
year “keeping the Senate from working” on major issues.

In remarks on the Senate floor Monday afternoon, Reid gave no hint
of an impending compromise on tax cut or spending issues.

Nor did he give any indication that he is willing to heed the
demand of Senate Republicans and slash the Lame Duck session to just a
handful of issues: the Bush tax cut extension, a 2011 fiscal year
spending bill and the START nuclear treaty between the U.S. and Russia.

“We have a long to-do list,” Reid said, and then recited a laundry
list of items including “middle class tax cuts,” health care benefits
for 9/11 responders, a $250 payment to Social Security recipients, the
START treaty, 30 pending nominations, repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” policy and an immigration education bill.

Reid said it was time for lawmakers to “roll up their sleeves”
rather than “digging in their heels.”

Despite Reid’s acerbic opening comments, it seems likely that
congressional leaders and administration officials will try to reach an
agreement this week that would extend all of the Bush era tax cuts for
several years as well as extend unemployment insurance benefits.

Reid said Saturday on the Senate floor that he hopes a tax cut
agreement could be reached by Thursday. This would clear the way for
House and Senate votes next week.

Reid also said that he wants Congress to end its work for the year
at the end of next week, Dec. 17.

There has been widespread speculation the final agreement will call
for a two year extension of all Bush era tax cuts and an extension of
unemployment insurance benefits. The tax package is likely to include a
host of other expiring tax cuts and adjustments to the AMT and estate
tax.

This deal is likely to be developed in negotiations involving
Treasury Secretary Tim Geithner, White House budget director Jack Lew
and Democratic senator Max Baucus, Republican senator Jon Kyl,
Democratic congressman Chris Van Hollen and Republican congressman Dave
Camp.

These talks are also expected to tackle the fate of spending bills
for the 2011 fiscal year. A stop-gap spending bill funding the federal
government expires Dec. 18. The 2011 fiscal year began Oct. 1 and none
of the 12 annual spending bills for FY’11 have been approved.

** Market News International Washington Bureau: 202-371-2121 **

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