Reid said he would “try to bring that up fairly early” once the Senate returns and that he was confident it would no longer run aground because of excessive amendment demands.

“I have everyone’s word that won’t be the case this time,” he told reporters on a conference call today.

A spokesman for Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Don Stewart, said in an email the minority leader had not signed off on any agreement. He would not rule out demands for any particular amendments while also declining to detail what Republicans would ask for.

Also on tap for the next work period, which goes until Memorial Day weekend, is the “tax extenders” bill that was voted out of the Finance Committee last week. The bill includes a two-year extension of the production tax credit, which primarily supports wind electricity; a suite of biofuels tax credits; and several incentives designed to make homes and commercial buildings more energy efficient (Greenwire, April 3).

Reid said he had discussed the bill with Finance Chairman Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) this week and was optimistic the Senate would be able to get it done.