Senate Lacks Votes to Pass Stimulus

[bijou]

Senate Democratic leaders conceded yesterday that they do not have the votes to pass the stimulus bill as currently written and said that to gain bipartisan support, they will seek to cut provisions that would not provide an immediate boost to the economy.


The legislation represents the first major test for President Obama and an expanded Democratic Congress, both of which have made economic recovery the cornerstone of their new political mandate. The stimulus package has now tripled from its post-election estimate of about $300 billion, and in recent days lawmakers in both parties have grown wary of the swelling cost. ...

Porkzilla

How many votes does this thing need to pass? Does this mean it has lost too much Dem support to pass in its current form?

[thundley4]

I think they want 60+ votes at least. If they cut the provisions that don't provide an immediate  boost to the economy, then they should end up with a bill closer to that original $300Bn estimate. In reality, we know that they will try and keep as much pork as possible, and the price tag will likely go up as the Dems allow the Republicans to  insert their own pork into America's anal orifice. 

[bijou]

I think they want 60+ votes at least. If they cut the provisions that don't provide an immediate  boost to the economy, then they should end up with a bill closer to that original $300Bn estimate. In reality, we know that they will try and keep as much pork as possible, and the price tag will likely go up as the Dems allow the Republicans to  insert their own pork into America's anal orifice. 

Thanks thundley. Whatever happens this is going to be a massive and expensive shambles.

[Eupher]

I think they want 60+ votes at least. If they cut the provisions that don't provide an immediate  boost to the economy, then they should end up with a bill closer to that original $300Bn estimate. In reality, we know that they will try and keep as much pork as possible, and the price tag will likely go up as the Dems allow the Republicans to  insert their own pork into America's anal orifice. 

There's plenty of pork to go around.

Spot-on, thundley.

h5

[franksolich]

Porkzilla

How many votes does this thing need to pass? Does this mean it has lost too much Dem support to pass in its current form?

They need 51, or might be only 50, given that the Senate seat in Minnesota is up in the air, and hence only 99 Senators currently in office.

Of course they're hoping for all 59 Democrats, and as many of the 40 Republicans as possible.

Two or three or four Republicans might vote for it, but it looks as if Democrat support is eroding, wiping out that particular gain (those Republicans).

Man, if they can't hold 51 Democrats (out of 59) in line, this is going to be fun to watch.

[Chris_]

They need 51, or might be only 50, given that the Senate seat in Minnesota is up in the air, and hence only 99 Senators currently in office.

Of course they're hoping for all 59 Democrats, and as many of the 40 Republicans as possible.

Two or three or four Republicans might vote for it, but it looks as if Democrat support is eroding, wiping out that particular gain (those Republicans).

Man, if they can't hold 51 Democrats (out of 59) in line, this is going to be fun to watch.

Lets hope the Senate goes the way of the House -- zero Republicans.  Let the democrats and the fuhrer own this pork-stuffed turkey.

[Splashdown]

Lets hope the Senate goes the way of the House -- zero Republicans.  Let the democrats and the fuhrer own this pork-stuffed turkey.

Here's hoping...but have you MET the senior senator from Arizona, and of course, mine from Pennsylvania?

 

[Chris_]

Here's hoping...but have you MET the senior senator from Arizona, and of course, mine from Pennsylvania?

 :bawl:

I brought him up the other day but even McCain has publicly stated he won't approve the bill as it is now.

[Splashdown]

I brought him up the other day but even McCain has publicly stated he won't approve the bill as it is now.

Didn't see that. That's good--and surprising!--news.

[franksolich]

I repeat, forget about any possible Republican defections--and there might be two or three or four of them--on this bill; how Republicans vote is irrelevant.

The bill needs 51 (or maybe only 50) votes to pass.

The Democrats have 59 votes.

If the Democrats can't muster 51 (or 50) of those 59 votes from their own party, that's the real story.

[franksolich]

Under the "unofficial" rules in the Senate now, frank, you need 60 votes.

I must be disconnected, or something.

To prevent a filibuster, one needs 60 votes.

But this is just a bill, not a constitutional amendment or anything, just a simple bill, that requires a simple majority to pass, which in this case would be 51 (or 50) votes.

[Crazy Horse]

I must be disconnected, or something.

To prevent a filibuster, one needs 60 votes.

But this is just a bill, not a constitutional amendment or anything, just a simple bill, that requires a simple majority to pass, which in this case would be 51 (or 50) votes.

Under current rules in the Senate coach one needs 60 votes for cloture to bring it to a vote, then only 51..........Hell if it went 50/50 I bet plugs Biden would break the tie

[franksolich]

Under current rules in the Senate coach one needs 60 votes for cloture to bring it to a vote, then only 51..........Hell if it went 50/50 I bet plugs Biden would break the tie

Yeah, my apologies to BadCat, and to bijou, for confusing her.

The bill needs 51, or maybe only 50, to pass.

However, what I was forgetting to point out, and others were trying to tell me, the bill needs 60 to come up for a vote in the first place; the pre-voting parliamentary maneuvers.

It needs at least 60 to come up for a vote, and then 51, or 50, to pass.

My apologies.

[docstew]

the R's should cut out as much as possible before allowing cloture, all the while working to push popular opinion down.  Once they make it unpopular enough to ensure failure, once people see that the number of jobs that are projected to disappear don't, or even see signs of recovery, then they let the bill come to the floor, and drive a stake through it's heart

[Sam Adams]

Obama is failing! I love it! Rush, thanks for taking the lead.

[rich_t]

Here's hoping...but have you MET the senior senator from Arizona, and of course, mine from Pennsylvania?

 

And mine from Ohio?

RINO is the term I believe.

[DumbAss Tanker]

There is no chance in Hell of filibustering this Godawful porkpile with McCain, Specter, and company on our side, but a man can dream, dammit!

 

[Splashdown]

A

There is no chance in Hell of filibustering this Godawful porkpile with McCain, Specter, and company on our side, but a man can dream, dammit!

 

According to Michelle Malkin, there are four "squishy" Senators:

Collins, Snowe, Voinovich, and Specter.

And Reid says he has two Repub. votes, one of which is Collins.