Reid Gets Cloture on Financial Reform

Wednesday’s setback didn’t last long: The Senate voted to close debate on financial reform on Thursday after Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid corralled the 60 votes needed to overcome a GOP filibuster. Democrats Russ Feingold and Maria Cantwell voted “nay” again, but Arlen Specter returned to vote “aye,” and Republican Scott Brown changed his vote to “aye.” Reid had excoriated Brown on Wednesday for allegedly misleading him, but appears to have forgiven him on Thursday, saying, “He’s new here. He’s trying hard. I’m sure it was a misunderstanding.”