We came into the day expecting a vote at 2 p.m. ET to end debate on the financial reform bill, an opportunity for opponents to filibuster and a test of whether the 60 votes to proceed are really there. But things began unraveling yesterday, and that vote has been delayed. Instead, Senate Democrats will hold a special caucus meeting at 2:15 ET, presumably to hash out which remaining amendments get a vote, when the cloture vote will be rescheduled and whether the votes are there. Stay tuned …
Late Update: Brian Beutler reports from the Hill that Harry Reid says he’s still confident he has or can get the 60 votes needed to end debate on the bill, though I think that’s a bit of gamesmanship because if he had the votes they wouldn’t be holding a special Democratic caucus meeting right now. The purposes of the meeting: figure out how to appease Sens. Cantwell, Merkley, Levin, et al who want votes on their amendments, or, more challengingly, figure out a way to convince Republicans to stop blocking votes on those same amendments. Who will give, Republicans or Senate progressives? More soon …
David Kurtz
David Kurtz is Managing Editor and Washington Bureau Chief of Talking Points Memo where he oversees the news operations of TPM and its sister sites.