Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) said Thursday that it was "untoward" for House Republicans to take the weekend off at a time when the country was on the brink of default.
"Coming in here today -- I just heard there is an announcement in the House of Representatives that they're taking the weekend off," Reid said in a speech on the Senate floor. "I want everyone that can hear my voice to understand that time is of the essence. We are running out of time."
He continued: "I think this is a very bad picture for our country to have the House of Representatives out for this weekend when we have to likely wait for them to send us something, because I understand that negotiations taking place deal with revenues which constitutionally have to start in the House of Representatives."
"So I think it is just untoward -- and that's the kindest word I can say -- for the House of Representatives to be out this weekend. What a bad picture that shows the country. We have 12 days left before our nation does the unthinkable, forever undermining the full faith and credit credit of our great country."
Brad Dayspring, a spokesman for House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-VA), tried to shift blame back to Senate Democrats for debating the so-called "Cut, Cap and Balance" plan already passed by House Republicans.
"Again, what is the Senate doing today?" he said in a statement to Fox News. "What I thought I heard you say was sitting around for two days deciding whether to vote on the work that the House has already done."
Democratic Senators have declared the GOP plan "dead on arrival."
"[It] would wreak havoc on our country's seniors, the middle class, military preparedness, and our country's standing in the world - their plan to cut, cap, and kill medicare is the Ryan plan on steroids," Sen. Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said at a press conference Wednesday.
