Republican Scott Brown crosses aisle to help Democrats with financial regulation vote
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When he was elected, Massachusetts Sen. Scott Brown was cheered by conservatives across the nation for becoming the 41st Republican senator, the one that was needed to keep any filibuster alive and block Democrats from automatically enacting any legislation.
On Thursday, he showed that he was the critical difference – by voting with Democrats to move financial regulation legislation along.
In a 60-40 vote, the Senate passed a procedural motion that paves the way for final passage of the overall bill, perhaps as soon as this week. Brown, who voted against the motion earlier this week, changed his mind and was part of the supermajority that was required to move the bill to the next stage.
In a prepared statement, Brown said he decided to support the bill after he was assured by Majority Leader Harry Reid “that the issues related to Massachusetts in the financial reform bill will be fixed before it is signed into law. We are still working to ensure these commitments are fulfilled prior to a final vote.”
Brown captured the seat vacated by the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy in a special election in which he ran against Democratic programs such as healthcare insurance overhaul. He also had strong support from the ‘tea party’ movement in his state.
He instantly became a political star because he had captured a seat in a Democratic state. Republicans hoped Brown’s success combining an anti-President Obama platform with energetic tea party support would be a template for this year’s midterm elections.
In Thursday’s procedural vote, he crossed the aisle with two other New England senators, Susan Collins and Olympia J. Snowe, both of Maine. That offset the loss of two Democrats. Lame-duck Sen. Arlen Specter was also on hand for Thursday’s vote after missing the earlier one because of his losing effort in the Pennsylvania primary this week.
-- Michael Muskal
