Senate to hold weekend votes

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) tried to avoid weekend work by scheduling votes on the government funding bill for Monday evening, but Republicans objected.

Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) said he thought the public deserved to hear the Senate debate the merits of the $1.1 trillion “cromnibus,” that would fund most of the government through September and avoid a government shutdown.

{mosads}The Senate already passed a two-day continuing resolution, but funding expires Saturday night, meaning the Senate will have to pass another short-term extension. 

“Roll call votes are expected throughout the day Saturday,” Reid said. “We’re going to have to rearrange our schedules for the weekend.”

The Senate has adjourned until noon on Saturday.

Reid was forced to file cloture on the House-passed measure because of objections from a handful of senators on both sides of the aisle. That sets up a procedural vote as early as 1 a.m. on Sunday and final passage another 30 hours after that unless an agreement is reached to hold the final vote sooner.

The House passed the bill Thursday night and left town for the year, meaning the Senate has to pass the bill to prevent a government shutdown.

Some Republicans don’t support the bill because they say it doesn’t go far enough to stop President Obama’s executive order on immigration, although it only funds the Department of Homeland Security through February, setting up another fight early next year.

Democrats, meanwhile, have blasted riders attached to the plan that would repeal parts of the Dodd-Frank financial reform law, increase campaign contribution limits and stop the District of Columbia from legalizing marijuana.

Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has spearheaded the Democrats’ opposition because of the Dodd-Frank reforms, while Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) has raised complaints on the immigration issue.

Once the cromnibus is complete the Senate still has to work through other measures before adjourning for the year. Reid has said he wants to take up a tax extenders package, renew the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act and clear several nominations, meaning the Senate could be in most of next week.

Reid frequently threatens weekend work, but this will be the first time this year he follows through.