Specter Votes for Spending Freeze After Voting for Stimulus
The McCain substitute amendment (a.k.a. the McCain budget) failed predictably on the Senate floor earlier. As with the Republicans' alternative stimulus bill, nearly ever member of the GOP voted to scrap the Democrats' plan in favor of a much more conservative option. The final tally was 60-38, with Sens. Collins, Corker, and Snowe voting with the Democrats. Sen. Arlen Specter, usually identified as a swing Republican, voted for the mid-recession spending freeze after having voted for a $700 billion stimulus bill intended to combat the economic downturn.
You can see the full roll call here.
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Josh
Matt
Eric
Arlen's desperately trying to move right. Too bad if it doesn't work.
And Dems in the Senate? Don't count Specter for your 60 votes for cloture.
April 2, 2009 4:12 PM | Reply | Permalink
Corker voted with the Dems? That guys is downright unpredictable sometimes. Any ideas why folks?
April 2, 2009 4:13 PM | Reply | Permalink
Probably to get cloture, with Franken not seated and Kennedy probably in Florida, the Dems needed three votes. Collins, Snowe and Specter made the most sense, but Specter is busy making himself look like a complete fool who stands for nothing.
April 2, 2009 4:19 PM | Reply | Permalink
Maybe I am missing something, but weren't the crazies 22 votes away from cloture, i.e., they needed 60 votes to end debate, and only got 38...
April 2, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
Dems needed the 60 votes to defeat the measure and end debate.
I would suspect that Corker said he was voting with the Dems so Ted Kennedy wouldn't need to make an appearance for what was a silly grandstanding measure.
April 2, 2009 4:28 PM | Reply | Permalink
I see. So basically, the GOP caucus decided that the purity-drive in their party required that Specter toe the line, so Corker drew the short stick so the rest of the party could 'support' McCain even though they couldn't really care less, and easily put an end to the shenanigans.
That is more or less what you mean, yes?
April 2, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
What an idiot. He is proving over and over again that he deserves the ass-kicking coming his way next year.
April 2, 2009 4:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
The dude needs to at least pretend to have some principles on which to stand. Nobody likes an opportunist.
April 2, 2009 4:31 PM | Reply | Permalink
Just like John McShame, he's going to go down pandering, pissing away whatever legacy he thinks he's built.
April 2, 2009 4:41 PM | Reply | Permalink
Yes, but bet the house that David Gregory (R-NBC) will have Arlen on Meet the Press very soon. They are pals.
April 2, 2009 5:08 PM | Reply | Permalink