Reid Gets Votes to Push Tax Cut
The Hill reports:
Senate Democrats and Republicans joined together Monday afternoon to advance an $858 billion package of tax cuts and benefits, setting up a political showdown with the House.
As of 4:10 p.m., 62 senators had voted to end a filibuster by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), who spoke for more than eight and a half hours on Monday against the package.
At least seven lawmakers voted to sustain a filibuster: Sens. Sanders, Jeff Bingaman (D-N.M.), Mark Udall (D-Colo.), Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Russ Feingold (D-Wis.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio).
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) plans to keep the vote open for up to several hours to give lawmakers whose flights have been delayed by snowy weather a chance to register their votes later Monday afternoon.
Having secured the 60 votes necessary to end a filibuster, Reid could bring the package up for a final vote as soon as Tuesday. The timing of final passage will depend on when the last lawmaker votes on Monday and whether opponents will agree to waive procedural rules.
A Democrat aide cautioned that a final vote could get pushed to Wednesday.
Reid has overcome the tougher hurdle of ending the filibuster and will easily win enough votes to send the package to the House this week.
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