Senate Dems Jam House Republicans, Pass Bush Tax-Cut Extension For Middle Class

Source: Talking Points Memo

Senate Democrats have accomplished a feat they were unable to muster back in 2009 and 2010, when they had a much larger majority: On Wednesday, they passed a bill to extend the Bush tax cuts for everyone’s first $250,000 in income.

The legislation prevailed 51-48 — a vote that signals Democrats would ultimately be willing to allow tax cuts for high-income earners to expire at the end of the year.

Republicans aided Democrats in the effort, by agreeing to drop their filibuster and allow the legislation to pass or fail on a simple majority basis. But Wednesday’s tight roll call nevertheless required Vice President Joe Biden to chair the Senate’s proceedings if, in a rare exercise of his constitutional duties as president of the Senate, his vote was needed to break a tie.

Sens. Joe Lieberman (I-CT) and Jim Webb (D-VA) voted with Republicans against the measure.

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/07/senate-dems-jam-house-republicans-pass-bush-tax-cut-extension-for-middle-class.php

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2:08 PM PT: VP Biden announces the bill passes, 51-48. Roll call as soon as available. Harry Reid just won a big one, and all the pressure is on Boehner, now.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2012/07/25/1113610/-Senate-agrees-on-majority-votes-for-tax-cut-nbsp-extensions