Reid sets Dec. 21 deadline for Senate

WASHINGTON, Dec. 5 (UPI) -- U.S. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday he would like to end the session by Dec. 21, hoping senators can finish their business by then.

Reid, D-Nev., said he wants to deal with a patch for the alternative minimum tax, a farm bill, the 1978 Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act overhaul and an omnibus appropriations bill that would include 11 of 12 budget measures, The Hill reported.

The Senate also will act on temporary defense funding and an energy bill being considered by the House, Reid said.

"We would like to finish the business of this body by two weeks from Friday. That's our goal. I hope we can do that," Reid said on the Senate floor. "I hope we don't have to work on Christmas week. It's possible we might have to do that."

Reid also complained that Republicans were stalling Democratic efforts to move legislation. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., denied the charge, saying the ambitious end-of-year agenda is because Democrats tried to pass bills without Republican consent during the session.

"We have nearly a full year's worth of work to do until we leave for Christmas," McConnell said.