Reid files cloture on small-business bill

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) filed cloture on the Small Business Administration (SBA) funding bill Monday after he was unable to reach an agreement with Republicans.

Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) has held up the legislation by demanding a vote on an amendment that would change the way regulations affecting small businesses are issued.

By filing cloture, Reid will force a vote later this week that will determine whether the legislation will proceed for final passage.

“We have had this small-business bill on the floor for weeks,” Reid complained on the Senate floor Monday afternoon. “Each time we think we can see a way to close this, my friends on the other side of aisle come forward with other amendments making it impossible for us to move forward.”

In a deal earlier this year, Reid agreed to allow a more open amendment process on the Senate floor in exchange for a reduction in holds and filibusters from the GOP.

That deal is being threatened by Snowe's fight with Reid, an aide told The Hill.

Reid said Democratic leadership had its side of the agreement but suggested Republicans were abusing the process. 

“I don't know how much more good faith we could show than what we have already shown,” he said. “There has been no way of ending this so we are going to file cloture tonight."

Although the SBA funding bill is noncontroversial, senators from both parties have taken advantage of the open amendment process to file more than 125 amendments — of which only about 20 are germane.

The underlying Small Business Reauthorization Act, or S. 493, would provide funding for the Small Business Innovation Research program and the Small Business Technology Transfer program, which Democrats say would create jobs.

The Senate adjourned about 6:45 p.m. on Monday and is set to return at 10 a.m. Tuesday, at which time it will continue consideration of the small-business bill. 

-- Erik Wasson contributed to this report.