April 23, 2008

To finish off the day's posting on H.R. 2831, the Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (earlier posts here and here and here): The Senate voted 56-42 (roll call vote), failing to invoke cloture, which allowed everyone to cast his or her vote for the record. Senator Clinton and Senator Obama were the last two speakers before leadership had its turn.

Majority Leader Reid voted no, preserving his parliamentary options; Senator Kennedy is talking about today's vote being "an early skirmish." All the other Democrats voted yes, as did the following Republicans: Collins and Snowe of Maine, Smith of Oregon, Coleman of Minnesota and Sununu of New Hampshire. All save Snowe are up for re-election this year.

Meanwhile, tomorrow is the vote on the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act.