Senate leaders were unable Tuesday to reach a deal on energy legislation that has held up the chamber for a week and blocked movement on other bills that Democrats want to pass this summer.

Republicans rejected an offer by Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., for consideration of four energy-related amendments to a Democratic measure (S 3268) aimed at boosting regulation of speculation in the oil markets — even though at least one of the amendments would allow a vote on the signature GOP issue of expanding offshore drilling.

Democrats have been slammed by Republicans in recent weeks for resisting a vote on the contentious drilling issue.

But Reid said the onus is now on the GOP.

“Republicans have had many opportunities to vote on lowering gas prices. The choice is theirs,” Reid said. “We offered them four amendments, and they turned that down.”

Republican leaders said they took umbrage at being offered only four amendments — and having those four be prescribed.

“We have a substantial number of amendments that should be offered in an open process,” said Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., who chairs the Senate GOP Conference.

For the last week, Republicans have used procedural tactics to stall other legislation in order to continue the debate on energy. The bitter partisan divide is not over the underlying speculation bill, which many Republicans say they would support, but over Republicans’ insistence on adding numerous amendments — first and foremost, amendments to expand offshore drilling.

Republican leaders said Wednesday that they intend to continue to use the Senate floor to press for more drilling — and they also threatened to use procedural tactics to try to block the Senate from going on its August recess.

“I’m willing to stay as long as we need to until we get something done,” said Sen. Pete V. Domenici of New Mexico, ranking Republican on the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee. “What we need to do is stay on the subject and not move to anything else.”

Reid dismissed the Republican threats, but said he would leave the door open to finding a deal on energy-drilling amendments before recess. That would allow the chamber to bring up other legislation Reid hopes to pass, including a package on consumer product safety (HR 4040) and another that would boost federal funding on higher education (HR 4137).

But he added, “We’re scheduled to be out of here on Friday, so I don’t think there’s going to be [many] amendments on anything,”

As to Republicans’ threat to block a movement to recess, Reid said it was empty. While the Senate may continue in a pro forma session, Reid said, “We don’t need the Republicans’ permission to adjourn.”