The Hill News

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) blasted Senate Republicans on Wednesday for suggesting that working through the Christmas holiday was disrespectful.

Reid sharply criticized GOP senators who have complained that the unfinished business on the Senate schedule could keep the body in session up until next week's Christmas holiday.

"It's offensive to me and millions of working Americans for any senator to suggest that working through the Christmas holiday is sacrilegious or disrespectful," Reid said on the Senate floor.

The top Democrat's remarks come amid a power play in the Senate on Wednesday over the chamber's schedule, and just how much Democrats will be able to pass during the waning days of the lame-duck Congress.

Reid had targeted this Friday, Dec. 17, for adjournment, but has now said the Senate will likely have to work into the weekend and possibly next week in order to accomplish its unfinished business. The! Senate passed a tax-cuts bill Wednesday afternoon, and sought to begin debate on the New START nuclear arms treaty. Other items on the agenda include a bill to fund the government that must be authorized by Saturday, and the DREAM Act, an immigration bill.

Republicans have chafed at the schedule throughout the lame duck, especially since they picked up seats in the November elections and will have more power when a new Congress is sworn in on Jan. 5.

"It is impossible to do all of the things that the majority leader laid out without doing â€" frankly, without disrespecting the institution and without disrespecting one of the two holiest of holidays for Christians and the families of all of the Senate, not just the senators themselves but all of the staff," Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), the second-ranking Senate Republican, said Tuesday.

Adding to the calendar woes was Sen. Jim DeMint's (R-S.C.) move on Wednesday to force a reading of the treat! y and the $1.1 trillion omnibus spending bill in order to stal! l action on the Senate floor.

Reid said he didn't need "sanctimonious reminders from Senators Kyl and DeMint on what Christmas means."

The Senate last year worked until Christmas Eve to pass a healthcare reform bill .

"We could work, as most Americans do, during the holidays," the Nevada Democrat said. "The mines don't shut down in Nevada on Christmas; people work … most people don't get two weeks off on any time, let alone Christmas week."