Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) opened the Senate today with an unsuccessful attempt to bring up legislation extending tax breaks for renewable energy and the alternative-minimum tax.

Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) rejected Reid’s unanimous consent request, arguing that the Democratic leadership was trying to steamroll over the GOP without seeking compromise. Kyl said he objected to the request because the bill did not contain several compromise provisions that had passed the Senate.

Reid said he will try to bring the matter up again before the Senate breaks for the year.

After a long weekend dedicated to intense negotiations on the financial rescue plan, Reid said that there will be a vote Monday afternoon on the Amtrak bill.

Reid said that the Amtrak bill will be up for a vote at approximately 12:30 this afternoon.

Reid said the Senate will break for an hour at 1:30 this afternoon for a Democratic Caucus meeting to discuss the $700 billion bailout plan.

The Senate is expected to take up the bailout bill Wednesday evening.

Republican Conference Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.) said Monday morning that he thinks that the Senate should move toward the bill Monday.