Reid to force repeated votes to end filibuster of Wall Street reform

A senior Democratic aide said Reid would schedule votes to
end a Republican filibuster of the reform bill on Tuesday and Wednesday of this
week.

“We need to keep the pressure up to get a deal,” said the
Democratic aide.

Reid held a live quorum call on Monday evening to bring
senators to the floor, interrupting their schedules and sending a message to
lawmakers who voted to block debate of Wall Street reform.

{mosads}Thirty-nine Republicans and Sen. Ben Nelson, a conservative
Democrat from Nebraska, voted against a motion to begin debate.

Reid also voted against the motion because of a procedural
technicality that will allow him to bring up for reconsideration.

Democratic aides said Reid would call senators to reconsider
the motion to begin debate of the reform bill on Tuesday.

Reid also plans to file a motion Monday evening to end the
GOP filibuster. That would set up a third vote on Wednesday to end the
filibuster. 

A second Democratic aide said leaders wanted to focus public
attention on GOP “obstruction.”

Republicans, however, said the maneuver could backfire if
centrists believe that Democrats are sacrificing bipartisan negotiations to
play politics on the Senate floor.

“It’s unfortunate that we’re in a position today to vote I
think prematurely when there were discussions underway,” said Sen. Olympia
Snowe, a centrist Republican from Maine, after voting Monday against the
Democratic motion to begin debate.

“It wasn’t necessary to have a vote today because I think
the discussions are going along in good faith,” Snowe said.