–Senate Majority Leader Says Senate Will Vote To End Debate Thursday AM
–Will Work On UI Bill Next Week; Expects New Dem Senator
–Plan To Do ‘Other Job Related Things’ This Year
By John Shaw
WASHINGTON (MNI) – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said Wednesday
that he is still hoping to pass the final version of financial
regulatory reform Thursday.
At a briefing, Reid said the Senate will hold a key procedural vote
Thursday morning on the financial regulatory reform bill.
Reid said once that hurdle is cleared, he hopes the Senate can move
to final passage on the bill.
If Reid secures the 60 votes Thursday to end the debate on the
regulatory reform bill, the Senate could theoretically debate the matter
for up to 30 hours.
Reid said that would be a “waste” of time. He has said that if
Republicans demand to use those 30 hours, the final Senate vote will be
held Saturday.
While it will only require a majority vote in the Senate to pass
the bill, Democratic leaders need 60 votes to cut off the debate in the
upper chamber.
They now appear to have those votes.
On another matter, Reid said he will bring up legislation next week
to extend unemployment insurance.
Reid said that he expects the governor of West Virginia will
appoint a senator next Tuesday to succeed former senator Robert Byrd.
After that senator is in Washington, Reid plans to move to the UI
extension bill which fell one vote short several weeks ago.
The Senate Majority leader said the UI extension would help inject
$34 billion into the economy.
He said that measure coupled with a small business loan package
would give the economy a boost. He said he has some other ideas as well.
“We are going to do some job related things,” Reid said.
Reid said Republicans are trying to block all efforts to strengthen
the economy.
“They want … failure,” he said.
** Market News International Washington Bureau: (202) 371-2121 **
[TOPICS: M$U$$$,MFU$$$,MCU$$$,MK$$$$,M$$CR$]