On Jan. 9, the Laken Riley Act vastly cleared the 60 vote threshold to advance to debate in the Senate by a cloture vote of 84-9.
The 9 "Nay" votes were Sens. Booker (D-NJ), Hirono (D-HI), Kim (D-NJ), Markey (D-MA), Merkley (D-OR), Sanders (I-VT), Schatz (D-HI), Smith (D-MN), and Warren (D-MA).
Don't get excited yet, Senate Democrats signaled they only voted yes in order to be able to amend the bill, i.e., water it down and kill it with provisions Republicans will never accept.
Having said that, there's a full court press by Republicans in both chambers to get the Act passed and after the Senate vote, Republicans held a press conference.
Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) was in attendance along with Sen. Katie Britt (R-AL) and Sen. Ted Budd (R-NC) and others.
Britt thanked Thune for bringing the Act to the floor but also thanks Sen. John Fetterman (D-PA) for joining in co-sponsoring the legislation. She also warned that in the days that follow special interest groups will "try to kill this bill."
“We can’t let something like this happen again," said Budd. "I can’t think of a single reason why any senator would oppose the Laken Riley Act."
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