Finger-pointing begins as Reid says "we're headed" to fiscal crisis Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid said Thursday that the nation appears to be running headlong into the looming fiscal crisis, as he launched into what is sure to be an aggressive round of finger-pointing on Capitol Hill. The majority leader, on the Senate floor, said "it looks like that's where we're headed" as he discussed the likelihood of missing the Dec. 31 deadline for averting $600 billion in tax hikes and spending cuts. In doing so, he put all the blame on House Speaker John Boehner, likening him to a dictator and claiming he was putting his speakership before the country. "John Boehner seems to care more about keeping his speakership than about keeping the nation on firm financial footing," Reid said. He's waiting until January 3rd to get reelected as speaker before he gets serious with negotiations because he has so many people ... that won't follow what he wants. Boehner's office quickly shot back. Senator Reid should talk less and legislate more. The House has already passed legislation to avoid the entire fiscal cliff. Senate Democrats have not," Boehner spokesman Brendan Buck said. While Reid wants the House to pass a Senate Democratic bill to resolve the crisis, Boehner wants the Senate to pass legislation already approved by House Republicans. Neither chamber appears, though, to be willing to make the first move in the waning days before the crisis hits. The White House said that President Obama spoke separately with all four congressional leaders Wednesday before leaving Hawaii, where he was on vacation, to return to Washington. But with those leaders not exactly talking to one another, it looks like Thursday will be another wasted day in capital. The leaders of the House and Senate returned to familiar talking points, with each calling on the other side to act. Reid, on the floor, urged the House to pass a Senate bill that would extend current tax rates for most families but let them rise on top earners. Reid, who wants Boehner to let the bill pass with mostly Democratic votes, claimed the chamber was "being operated with a dictatorship of the speaker." Boehner earlier put the onus on the Senate, referring to two Republican-passed bills in his chamber -- one extending current tax rates for everyone; the other rearranging the $110 billion in spending cuts set to hit next year.