Senate cancels July 4 holiday recess to work on debt deal

Senators had planned to spend the week in their home states, meeting with constituents and enjoying what is traditionally a holiday week for Congress. But after urging from President Obama Wednesday that Congress stay in town to work out a debt reduction deal before the nation begins defaulting on its obligations Aug. 2, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) announced on the Senate floor Thursday that the chamber will reconvene on Tuesday.

“It is often said that with liberty comes responsibility. We should take that responsibility seriously. I’m confident we do. That’s why the Senate will reconvene Tuesday, the day after the 4th,” Reid said. “We’ll do that because we have work to do.”