The delay in beginning amendment votes comes after Reid has repeatedly said
he hopes for a final vote on the legislation by July 4.
With every hour of disagreement, Sen. Patrick Leahy of Vermont commented
dryly, that congressional vacation is pushed closer to jeopardy.
“I’d like to just have voting on something so we can finish this,” Leahy
said. “Frankly, given my choice to spend Fourth of July week in Washington
, as salubrious as the weather is, or in Vermont for the Fourth of July, I’
d much rather be in Vermont.”