A cloture vote on Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s (D., Nev.) deficit plan failed Sunday afternoon as GOP congressional leader continue to negotiate with the White House on a final deal. The vote failed 50 to 49, well short of the 60 required for passage. Sen. Scott Brown (R., Mass.) was the only Republican to vote yes, while Sens. Joe Manchin (D., W.Va.), Ben Nelson (D., Neb.) and Bernie Sanders (I., Vt.) broke ranks on the other side. The Senate went into recess following the vote, as members await word on a final plan. Both parties have tentatively scheduled meetings or conference calls to confer when more details of the plan are known.
Overall, Republicans seem largely optimistic while Democrats appear more skeptical, and even annoyed, about what the final package might include. Sen. Carl Levin (D., Mich.) lamented that President Obama was not sufficiently devoted to the cause of higher taxes on “hedge fund managers” and such. Several others denounced the lack of a “balanced approach.”
Still, Senate Majority Leader Dick Durbin (D., Ill.) said he was “far more confident now than I was 24 hours ago” that the two sides could come to an agreement. Durbin told reporters that Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R., Ky.), House Speaker John Boehner (R., Ohio) and Vice President Joe Biden were the primary players in the ongoing talks, but said that President Obama had assured Reid and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D., Calif.) that he would not sign off on a deal without their approval.
Note: Reid’s bill is far from dead, rather in limbo. It will likely become the eventual vehicle by which a final deal moves through Congress (after amendments, etc.).