Reid: Wall Street reform must be finished by next week

Democrats hope to finish Wall Street reform legislation by next week, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Tuesday.

Reid said that Democrats would finish work on their bill "one way or another" by next week so that the Senate could move on to other legislative prior to Congress' Memorial Day Recess.

"We have to finish it by next week," Reid said during a morning speech on the Senate floor, "and we will, one way or another."

The majority leader's remarks set up a timeline for how the bill might proceed over the next two weeks.

The Senate is back into full swing on Tuesday, where votes are scheduled on a series of Democratic and Republican amendments to shepherd the bill toward final passage.

Democrats are confident that they can pass the bill in the end even if they don't help approve some Republican amendments, though Republicans say they expect all amendments, including those offered by Democrats, to require a 60-vote majority in order to pass.

If and when the Senate passes its bill, it will head to conference with House Democrats' bill.

Other items on the congressional agenda that may follow Wall Street reform could include jobs legislation, an energy and climate bill, and immigration reform.