Reid Asks Republicans for Weekend Off, Has Big Easy Fundraiser to Get To – The Note

Reid Asks Republicans for Weekend Off, Has Big Easy Fundraiser to Get To – The Note.

ABC News’ Z. Byron Wolf reports: Senators and staffers watched CSPAN breathlessly from their offices Wednesday evening as Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid indicated they might not have to work this weekend.

The Senate has been working at a breakneck pace (for the Senate) on the health reform legislation. Lawmakers  worked all last weekend on Democrats’ health reform bill and they worked the Saturday before Thanksgiving and all signs indicated they would work this coming weekend too.

But Reid, who wants to get a healthcare bill finished by Christmas, urged Republicans on the Senate floor to forego a debate on several conference reports this weekend in order to give Senators and staffers the weekend off.

“I understand the Republican leader doesn’t want us to do health care. I appreciate that. He and I have different positions on that,” said Reid. “I see no reason to punish everybody this weekend and I hope the minority will give strong consideration to the proposal that i’ve made.”

But in addition to shepherding the health care bill through the Senate, Reid is also locked in a tough reelection campaign.

And in that regard his desire for a weekend off is not so benevolent to other Senators and staffers.

It turns out Reid has a 1,000 plus per plate fundraiser scheduled for Saturday in New Orleans, according to one local paper, which also reports that Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-LA, a key swing moderate in the health care debate, will also be in attendance.

But Reid will not escape the health debate even in the Big Easy; the paper reports that Tea Party activists who oppose helath reform are planning to picket the fundraiser.

UPDATE:

Republicans rejected Reid’s request Thursday morning to fast track several spending bills, clear the floor for health reform votes next week, and take the weekend off.

“Republicans are prepared to provide a platform for the debate as long as it takes,” said Sen. Mitch McConnell, noting that “The majority leader said we would be working every weekend and we took him at his word.”

We expect to be here this weekend and we look forward to it. Republicans believe there is nothing more important we can do than stop this bill and start over… we are eager to continue the debate.”

“I know people have fundraisers because they are running for reelection and people have other important things to do, but there is nothing more important to do than this,” said McConnell.

What being in session means for the reform bill is unclear; the Senate floor debate is largely a side show. There have been 14 amendments in 10 days of debate. The real action on the bill is taking place off the Senate floor as Democrats search within their own caucus for the 60 votes they’ll need to pass the reform bill.