Test votes on dueling budgets could occur as early as Tuesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday he is nearing an agreement with Republican leaders to allow the Senate to vote Tuesday on whether or not to proceed with House Republicans' fiscal year 2011 budget plan and a Democratic amended version of that plan. 

“I spoke with the Republican leader and I think we will be able to work out some sort of agreement on the continuing resolution that we received from the House and the one that we are going to offer as an amendment and that should be sometime tomorrow afternoon,” Reid said in comments on the Senate floor.

The Republicans’ budget would cut $57 billion from government spending for 2011. The plan as amended by Democrats would cut just $6.5 billion. Both plans would require 60 votes to close debate and both are almost certain to fail. 

“Everyone has done the math,” said Reid on the floor earlier on Monday. “Everyone knows how these votes will turn out. Likely neither proposal will pass and neither will reach the president’s desk, and we will go back to square one at the negotiating table.”

The Senate adjourned at 7:15 p.m. on Monday and is scheduled to return at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesday. The Senate is scheduled to recess on Tuesday from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to accommodate the weekly caucus meetings.