As the Senate heads into its second day of debate over the war funding bill, the fate of Guantánamo detainees still tops the list of issues on senators’ minds and tongues.

Senate Democratic leaders on Tuesday tried to head off a contentious and lengthy discussion over what to do with the prisoners by agreeing to remove $80 million in their bill (S 1054) to close the prisons on the base at Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, and relocate detainees. The amendment, offered by Senate Appropriations Chairman Daniel K. Inouye , D-Hawaii, would also expressly prohibit money in the bill from being used to transfer Guantánamo detainees to the United States.

James M. Inhofe , R-Okla., who had planned to offer a similar amendment, endorsed Inouye’s language, as did several other Republicans.

“That will pretty much accomplish what I wanted to accomplish,” said Inhofe.

But Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., wasted no time in coming up with another Guantánamo amendment, ensuring that the issue will continue to be debated as consideration of the second fiscal 2009 supplemental spending bill resumes Wednesday.

McConnell’s amendment would require the administration to report to Congress a threat assessment of each of the about 240 prisoners now held at Guantánamo, and justify any detainee transfers that might come ahead of the assessments.

“This is a simple amendment that reflects the concerns of Americans about the danger of releasing terrorists either here or in their home countries, where they could then return to the fight,” McConnell said.

Regardless of whether the McConnell amendment is adopted, his effort further imperils the chance that the supplemental bill, which totals $91.3 billion in the Senate version, could reach President Obama’s desk before the Memorial Day recess.

“We hope to complete the legislation this week in the Senate,” said a Senate leadership aide. “But I think it is unlikely that we will have a conference completed on the bill before the end of this work period.”

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid , D-Nev., filed a motion Tuesday evening to invoke cloture and cut off debate on the measure. A vote on cloture would come Thursday.

Obama is expected to call for quick passage of the bill during a speech regarding his plans for Guantánamo on Thursday. The House passed its $96.7 billion version (HR 2346) on May 14.

Tuesday’s entire floor debate centered on the Guantánamo detainee issue.

Reid went to great pains to defend the Democrats’ decision to strip the Guantánamo-related money and assure the nation that there is no plan to release any of its prisoners in American communities.