As the onset of the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts nears and lawmakers say the likelihood of congressional action before the March 1 deadline diminishes, Senate Democrats are criticizing the House for not moving a sequester replacement plan. 

The Senate is expected to consider a $120 billion Democratic plan that would set aside the automatic spending cuts through the end of this year. Sen. Harry Reid (D-NV) expressed fear that House Republicans were not planning a “more sensible approach” than they have offered before.

“So they’re going to do nothing,” Sen. Reid said. “Senate Democrats will offer our own solution to the sequester later this week. If Republicans truly agree that these across-the-board cuts would be damaging to our economy, to national security, they should work to help us pass an alternative.”

The criticism was part of the finger-pointing across the aisle that has increased in Congress as the legislative days count down to the March 1 start of the sequester, with only faint signs of compromise.

Reid said Tuesday that he planned to meet and discuss the sequester with House Speaker John A. Boehner, R-Ohio, later this week, although he did not describe details of that meeting.

But there is a growing belief among many lawmakers that the impact of the automatic cuts won’t be felt right away, particularly because the Office of Management and Budget has said federal workers will be given 30 days’ notice before furloughs that may result from sequester.

“I think what’s going to happen is the sequester will take effect, and then the serious negotiations will probably start,” said Senate Minority Whip John Cornyn (R-TX).

As a result, both sides are making clear that they expect negotiations to continue well into March, with the hope of reaching a compromise by the end of that month.

A spokesman for Rep. Boehner (R-OH), said House Republicans previously passed an alternative menu of spending cuts in the 112th Congress and so the onus is now on Democrats to come up with their own plan that the GOP could support.

“Republicans have twice passed bills to replace the president’s sequester with better spending cuts and reforms. Our position is well-known. It’s long past time for the president and Senate Democrats to pass a plan of their own,” the spokesman said.