Financial Bill Clears Final Hurdle

The economy will soon be safer, until Wall Street finds new ways to undermine it: The Senate voted 60 to 38 on Thursday to close debate on financial reform, setting up a final vote on the legislation later in the day. The “yea” column includes three Republicans, who chose to break their party’s filibuster: Senators Susan Colllins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Scott Brown (MA); meanwhile, Democrat Russ Feingold (WI) voted against the measure, saying that it was too weak. Once the Senate passes the bill this afternoon, it will go to President Obama’s desk. He’s expected to sign it within days.