Senate vote on ‘cut, cap and balance’ scheduled for Friday morning

Senate leadership scheduled a Friday morning vote, as promised, on House Republicans’ “cut, cap and balance” proposal.

In order to call a vote at the last minute, Senate Democrats deployed a rare procedural tactic, moving to table the cloture “motion to proceed” on the legislation.

The move, hinted at by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) earlier in the day, represents a shift in the Democratic leader’s strategy on dealing with the Republican plan.

Earlier in the week Reid said he intended to allow Republicans to debate their bill until Saturday morning.

"I am committed to allowing a full and fair debate on this bill," Reid said on Wednesday. "I want the proponents and opponents of this bill to have time to air their views."

But Thursday afternoon Reid announced he would no longer “waste” the Senate’s time and would seek to abbreviate debate.

“I think this piece of legislation is about as weak and senseless as anything that has ever come on this Senate floor,” said Reid. “I am not going to waste the Senate's time day after day on this piece of legislation.”

Reid’s comments did not go unnoticed by Republicans.

Ranking member of the Senate Budget Committee Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) took to the floor late Thursday evening and said he was “flabbergasted” and “offended” at the majority leader’s remarks.

Sessions later told The Hill he was surprised Reid had gone back on his promise to allow the debate to run its course.

The measure coming up for a vote would cut spending by $111 billion in 2012, cap spending over the next decade and prohibit more borrowing until Congress passes a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution.

The Senate will convene at 9 a.m on Friday. The vote to table “cut, cap and balance” is scheduled for 10 a.m.