Reid warns Republicans to cool it on housing bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) warned Republicans Wednesday that if they keep blocking the housing bill, they risk stalling money for the Pentagon and the overhaul of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).

Reid, joined by Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee Chairman Charles Schumer (N.Y.) and Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray (Wash.), said amendments such as one offered by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) are blocking his ability to move to a final vote on the housing legislation. Until that is resolved, Reid said the emergency war-spending bill, FISA legislation and little else can pass the chamber in the week's remaining days.

{mosads}Otherwise, Reid said those issues would have to wait until after Congress reconvenes from the Independence Day recess — a delay the Bush administration does not want, since the Pentagon needs money to continue military operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"It is all up to the Republicans," Reid said. "We can finish everything tomorrow or the next day. If they make us jump through the hoops, we could take two more cloture votes on housing.”

Ensign's amendment would extend a variety of expiring energy tax credits — but it would be unpaid for, and Reid said that it is unlikely to pass the House.

For Democrats, delaying legislation until July could hamper the party's efforts to craft a domestic supplemental spending bill in July, since it is expected to include a number of popular provisions, such as law enforcement grants and Gulf Coast reconstruction funds.