BENNINGTON -- Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders controlled the Senate floor for hours Friday in an attempt to slow progress on a tax cut extension deal that would provide tax benefits to the wealthiest Americans.

"You can call what I am doing today whatever you want. You can call it a filibuster, you can call it a very long speech. I’m not here to set any great records or to make a spectacle," Sanders said on the Senate floor shortly before 10:30 a.m. "I am simply here today to take as long as I can to explain to the American people the fact that we have got to do a lot better than this agreement provides."

Sanders was still going strong Friday evening.

While not technically a filibuster, and unable to stave off a scheduled Monday vote, the independent Sanders held the Senate floor hour after hour Friday, hunched over a lectern, decrying a deal struck between President Barack Obama and Republican leaders in Congress.

The compromise Sanders spoke against Friday in his trademark Brooklyn accent will extend for two years tax cuts for all Americans -- including the wealthy. The cuts were passed in 2001 and 2003 during the administration of former President George W. Bush. They are set to expire at the end of the year unless Congress acts to extend them.

Republicans have demanded that breaks for the rich continue. In exchange, they agreed to extend emergency long-term unemployment benefits for more than a year. The deal also includes cuts to the tax on large estates -- angering many Democrats -- and a reduction in the payroll tax that funds Social Security.

Sanders, and others, however, are furious that the rich will continue to receive tax breaks.

"Who’s brilliant idea was it that we drive up the national debt, ask our kids to pay higher taxes to pay off that debt, in order to give tax breaks to the rich," Sanders said. "I hope millions of Americans start calling their senators to ask that question."

Sanders said supporters of extending tax breaks to the rich are not being honest about their intentions. "Please, no more lectures. Just say, ‘OK, rich people contributed to my campaign, I’ve got to give back,’" Sanders said. "That would be honest."

A spokesman in Sanders’ office said he was aiming to stall Senate approval of the deal as long as possible. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid scheduled a cloture vote for 3 p.m. Monday to move forward with the agreement. The 60 votes required to end a filibuster are expected to be in place.

But, up to 30 hours of debate are allowed after cloture is invoked unless all senators agree to vote sooner. Sanders’ spokesman said he will insist that the full 30 hours is used.

His control of the Senate floor Friday was aided by two Democratic colleagues -- Sen. Sherrod Brown of Ohio and Sen. Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. Brown spoke for about 45 minutes, while Landrieu spoke for about 30 minutes.

Landrieu praised Sanders’ effort to scuttle the tax deal. Sanders acknowledged that he and Landrieu don’t always agree on policy, but said they stood together against the compromise.

"Her politics and mine are not the same ... but she’s down here speaking from her heart," Sanders said. "On this issue I think we are speaking for the overwhelming majority of the people, not just in Louisiana and Vermont, but all over the country."

Senate rules allow a senator recognized to speak to do so as long as they want. They cannot be interrupted unless they agree. Although Brown and Landrieu spoke, Sanders was required to remain on the floor.

Word of the lengthy floor speech spread across the Internet, making it one of the highest trending topics on Twitter.

Sanders spoke on a range of topics and also read from letters, including one in which a woman described trying to save money by purchasing food from a "dented can store."

"Does anybody in Congress know what a dented can store is?" Sanders asked.