Reid to Senate: Debate House budget now

Senate Majority Harry Reid (D-Nev.) on Tuesday told the Senate to begin debating the House proposal to fund the government for the remainder of the fiscal year even though the House has yet to vote on it.

Time is of the essence, as the stopgap approved last week after an accord was struck to avert a federal shutdown expires at the end of Friday.

“The text has been filed in the House,” said Reid, referring to the funding bill that would cut $39.9 billion from current spending. “We expect to receive it tomorrow — the earlier the better.

“I ask senators to come and talk about this resolution — things they like or dislike,” said Reid. “This would be the time to do that, because we are going to be cramped for time when it gets here.”

The Senate is scheduled to begin a two-week break at the end of this week.