Both Ohio senators vote for cloture on immigration bill
The immigration bill has achieved cloture in the US Senate, which means that debate has ended and the bill will be scheduled for a floor vote. First though, the Senate will vote on 24 proposed amendments to the bill.
Both Ohio senators, Republican George Voinovich and Democrat Sherrod Brown, voted for cloture.
From the AP:
The Senate voted Tuesday to jump-start a stalled immigration measure to legalize millions of unlawful immigrants.
President Bush said the bill offered a “historic opportunity for Congress to act,” and appeared optimistic about its passage by week’s end.
The pivotal test-vote was 64-35 to revive the divisive legislation. It still faces formidable obstacles in the Senate, including bitter opposition by GOP conservatives and attempts by some waverers in both parties to revise its key elements.
Supporters needed 60 votes to scale procedural hurdles and return to the bill. A similar test-vote earlier this month found just 45 supporters, only seven of them Republicans. This time, 24 Republicans joined 39 Democrats and independent Sen. Joseph I. Lieberman of Connecticut, to back moving ahead with the bill. Opposing the move were 25 Republicans, nine Democrats and independent Sen. Bernard Sanders of Vermont.
A senator who votes for cloture however may or may not end up eventually voting in favor of the final bill. And even if the Senate passes the bill, it looks really tough in the House.
More in the New York Times. See also Michelle Malkin.
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