It is a rare occurrence for a legislative body to be given a reprieve at any level. It is even more uncommon for such a reprieve to be given to the United States Senate. But with the recent passing of Senator Robert Byrd there is now the smallest glimmer of hope that the ominous financial regulation reforms otherwise known as the Dodd Frank bill might still be quashed.
With Byrd’s seat now open the Dodd Frank bill lacks the sixtieth vote needed for passage in the Senate. On top of that Republican senators Brown and Grassley, both of whom crossed party lines to vote for the bill before reconciliation, are now thought to be opposed to its passage. At the same time Democrats Feingold and Cantwell, who initially opposed the reforms for not going far enough, will likely vote for the bill’s passage the second time around. Thus, the American people are left in a sort of limbo until Governor Joe Manchin of West Virginia nominates Byrd’s replacement. Since Governor Manchin has already stated that there is “no timetable” for finding Byrd’s replacement, it is unlikely the Democrats will have enough votes to pass their monstrosity before the July 4 recess. Such a scenario gives either of the two holdout Republican senators, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine, to reconsider.
The aforementioned scenario assumes a lot, but of all possible scenarios, it is the most likely one. Sadly, the likely outcome is still the eventual passage of the Dodd Frank bill. Snowe and Collins are not likely to change their votes. However, there is still that shot in the dark, that lonely hope of hopes, that somehow all of the so-called conservatives in the Senate will come back into the fold. Given this strange chance at reprieve we must put our faith in the consciences of two senators from Maine. If you have the time, please call either one of these senators’ Washington offices. Single phone calls do very little, but absolute barrages sometimes do make the difference when a controversial bill is in the balance. Such telephone blitzes are built at the grassroots level and are made one phone call at a time.
The office of Senator Olympia Snowe: (202) 224-5344
The office of Senator Susan Collins: (202) 224-2523
Coming tomorrow: Ten Reasons Why The Dodd Frank Bill is Bad for America
