Fillibuster failed by GOP...
WASHINGTON - The U.S. Senate lined up to advance the $827 billion economic stimulus legislation backed by the White House on Monday, clearing the threat of a Republican filibuster.
While Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid vowed to deliver a bill to President Barack Obama's desk within days, key lawmakers braced for a difficult round of further negotiations aimed at producing a final House-Senate compromise.
"There is no reason we can't do this by the end of the week," said Reid. He said he was prepared to hold the Senate in session into the Presidents Day holiday weekend if necessary, and cautioned Republicans not to try and delay final progress.
Republican Sens. Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter all broke ranks and supported revised legislation. Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, a Democrat battling a brain tumor, was also available to vote, making the final vote 61-36.
"This bill has the votes to pass. We know that," conceded Sen. John Thune earlier Monday, a Republican who has spoken daily in the Senate against the legislation.
Read on.
Update: The final up-or-down vote on the bill is expected to occur at noon tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment