Senate likely to be in session Saturday

Senate Democrats and Republicans pushed each other closer to a rare weekend session as both parties dug in Thursday in debates over energy and housing.

The parties remained at an impasse over a bill before the Senate that would crack down on speculation in the oil futures market. Republicans want Democrats to support an expansion of oil drilling and are insisting on a number of amendments to the bill. Democrats are willing to give them a vote on drilling, but want to limit the number of amendments and have accused Republicans of stalling.

{mosads}“We’ve offered them a vote. They don’t want it,” said Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.).

Senators may also need to stay until Saturday for a final vote on a housing-rescue bill passed by the House this week. The chamber is expected to vote to  limit debate on the measure Friday, but Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.) may insist on waiting out the full 30 hours of post-cloture time. 

Reid and other Democrats continue to oppose any efforts to allow oil companies to lease and drill on any acreage onshore or offshore that is currently under a congressional moratorium. But they have offered to compromise, putting forth a bill by Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.) that would expedite leasing of such areas where drilling is already allowed.

“It’s not new, un-leased land, but all the experts say there is far more oil in this area potentially than anyone would consider in ANWR,” Reid said, referring to the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in Alaska.

Otherwise, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee chairman Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Democratic Conference Secretary Patty Murray (D-Wash.) said Democrats won’t budge on their stance.

To break the stalemate, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) Wednesday night offered seven GOP amendments to Reid that Republicans want votes on.

Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) Thursday said GOP members want an opportunity to amend the Democratic energy proposal, and not simply to have an amendment heard in a side-by-side scenario next to a Democratic alternative.

Although Kyl said an agreement is still possible before the August recess, he said talks so far have been limited. Republicans never made a formal offer for 28 amendments as Democrats have said. Kyl said he’s had only three brief conversations with Durbin.

"From the very beginning, the Democratic leadership had a very partisan way to approach this," Kyl said. "There's a Republican plan, there's a Democratic plan. Both have to get 60 votes to win, neither can, therefore nothing will pass, but 'We've checked the box.' There's never been an attempt to negotiate."

The impasse sets up a steady schedule for the last few days of July, before senators break for their August recess. A vote is expected Friday on the speculation crackdown bill, followed by a housing bill cloture vote. A final vote on the housing bill would then occur on Saturday, followed by possible votes on low-income heating assistance later in the weekend or Monday.

A package of 35 bills held up by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) could be voted on next week before lawmakers adjourn.