Senate Vote Underway...Passes 60-39

Pretty much a foregone conclusion.

The only drama is will a Republican bail? Did history call?

They just wheeled Byrd in.

Sounds like all the Republicans stuck together (Collins and Snow stuck with the team), though I don't think Voinivich voted one way or the other. They are holding the vote because I don't think everyone got there.

It was a straight party line vote. Voinivich didn't vote but it didn't matter either way.

Just to be clear what this vote is...there's a motion to proceed on the floor. Under Senate rules the debate on that could go on forever. This is cloture motion allowing a vote on the motion to proceed.

While it's a cloture vote, it's not the one we normally think of. That one is to end debate and vote on the bill itself. That will be the next vote. It will come in a couple of weeks after debate and amendments.

Look, this is not good but there are at least 2 more 60 vote votes on this. The next will be on the cloture motion to end debate. That's when most of these things get killed (if they are going to) after that it will go to conference with the House, that will be another 60 vote opportunity.

This isn't good news but it's not the end by a long shot.

posted by DrewM. at 07:56 PM

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