Financial Reform Talks Near Collapse, Some GOPers Threaten To DefectBrian Beutler | April 27, 2010, 5:41PM
Bipartisan Wall Street reform negotiations appeared on the brink of collapse Tuesday night after Republican and Democratic principals found themselves at an impasse over the issue of consumer financial protection. But though Republicans have been promising all week to sustain a filibuster, blocking debate on the Democrats' legislation, they now seem prepared to cede the current fight, explicitly saying that, if talks don't bear fruit soon, they'll allow the bill to move to the floor.
"I don't feel like there's a real possibility in the near future of getting a bipartisan bill... I just don't feel that's a possibility," Sen. Bob Corker (R-TN) told reporters in response to a question from TPMDC.
Corker hasn't decided if he himself will ultimately vote to break a GOP filibuster of financial reform legislation. But he's fairly certain that a global agreement between Democrats and Republicans is impossible. "I don't feel under any pressure
I'm just far less optimistic than I've ever been."
Unlike Corker, though, Sen. George Voinovich (R-OH), long thought to be a financial reform swing vote, told reporters tonight that he'll give negotiations between Sens. Chris Dodd (D-CT) and Richard Shelby (R-AL) a bit more time. He says he's likely to vote to sustain the filibuster again tomorrow--but if there's no breakthrough soon, he will eventually vote with the Democrats to debate the legislation on the floor.
"Of course I will. We'll just get it out there and move on with it," Voinovich said in response to a question from TPMDC, adding "I think you'll see a whole bunch of other people come to the table and say 'let's get on with it."
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