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A delicately negotiated economic stimulus package stalled in the Senate Wednesday after Republicans blocked an attempt by Democrats to broaden the legislation.
By a vote of 58-41, Democrats failed to get the required 60 votes needed to limit debate on an alternative measure approved last month by the Senate Finance Committee.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said after the vote that he would continue discussions with Republicans to see how they could break the stalemate, leaving the issue in limbo at a time when the economy is the top issue on voters’ minds.
All Democrats voted to end debate including Sens. Hillary Rodham Clinton (N.Y.) and Barack Obama (Ill.). Both took time away from their presidential campaigns to support the failed cloture vote.
After the vote, Reid switched his vote to “no,” a procedural move that would allow him to call the measure back up at a later time.
Eight Republicans voted for cloture: Norm Coleman (Minn.), Susan Collins (Maine), Elizabeth Dole (N.C.), Pete Domenici (N.M.), Chuck Grassley (Iowa), Gordon Smith (Ore.), Olympia Snowe (Maine), and Arlen Specter (Pa.).
Sen. John McCain (Ariz.), the GOP frontrunner for president, was absent. Sen. Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.) said McCain likely would have voted “no.”
Targeted Republicans this cycle who voted against cloture included Sens. Mitch McConnell (Ky.), Ted Stevens (Alaska), John Sununu (N.H.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.).
Earlier in the week, Reid had warned Republicans that they would have only one chance to support rebate checks for 21.5 million senior citizens and 250,000 disabled veterans. He then scheduled the decisive vote on the Finance Committee bill that included a number of other provisions, such as a 13-week extension of unemployment benefits, $1 billion for low-income home heating assistance and $5.5 billion in renewable energy credits.
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