As the fiscal cliff battle remains unresolved with the deadline heading closer, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid charged that the House of Representatives is being operated like a “dictatorship” by Speaker John Boehner.

“The American people I don’t think understand, the House of Representatives is operating without the House of Representatives,” Reid said. “It’s being operated with a dictatorship of the Speaker, not allowing the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want.”

Reid said Boehner was more interested in keeping his job as speaker instead of putting the economy first. “Nothing can move forward in regards to our budget crisis unless Speaker Boehner and [Minority] Leader [Mitch] McConnell are willing to participate in coming up with a bipartisan plan,” Reid said. “So far, they are radio silent.”

The “only viable escape route,” he said, would be for the House to approve the Senate bill that would keep intact existing tax rates on those with income under $250,000. “Everyone knows that if they had brought up the Senate-passed bill, it would pass overwhelmingly. But the speaker says, no we can’t do that,” Reid asserted.

A spokesman for Boehner released the following statement in response to Reid’s remarks: “Senator Reid should talk less and legislate more. The House has already passed legislation to avoid the entire fiscal cliff. Senate Democrats have not.”

Watch the remarks below, via C-SPAN: