Jon Kyl says finishing Senate business disrespects Christmas

Invoking the holidays, second-ranking GOP senator bemoans heavy schedule, which includes START, budget and taxes

Published December 15, 2010 9:20PM (EST)

The Senate is in a spat over working through Christmas.

The GOP's second-in-command in the Senate, Jon Kyl of Arizona, complained Wednesday that Democrats are stacking up a nuclear arms treaty with Russia, the budget, tax cuts and other weighty matters against the holiday. Kyl said that keeping lawmakers in session that long is disrespectful to Christians.

The Senate's majority leader, Democrat Harry Reid of Nevada, retorted that he doesn't need any "sanctimonious lectures" about the meaning of Christmas. Reid said senators should be willing to work up to the holidays like millions of other Americans.

The Senate voted on the health care reform bill last Christmas Eve and is often in session late into December, regardless of which party controls the schedule.


By Associated Press

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