Senate fails to move forward on small-business legislation

The Senate failed to end debate on a small-business measure on Thursday as leaders continue to work out the number of amendments to the bill. 

The vote to end debate fell 58-42, with 60 needed to move forward on the measure. 

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) continued sparring over how many amendments would be considered to the bill. 

“I think there’s a chance we can make significant progress really soon,” McConnell said on the floor. 

McConnell and Reid are meeting on the bill. 

Republican Sen. George LeMieux (Fla.), who joined Democrats a week ago to push through a $30 billion lending fund to help community banks can lend to small businesses, urged leaders to stick with amendments relevant to the measure. 

McConnell said Republicans want more than three amendments to the measure, but wouldn’t say how many he wanted when questioned by Senate Small Business Chairman Mary Landrieu (D-La.). 

"Until we agree on that number it's hard to figure out a path forward," Landrieu said.

--This story was updated at 1 p.m.