Senate won’t vote on auto bailout, House outlook g
« Thread Started on Nov 20, 2008, 2:43pm »

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Senate won’t vote on auto bailout, House outlook grim
Posted: 07:47 AM ET
From Dana Bash and Dierdre Walsh
CNN
WASHINGTON (CNN) — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid reversed plans to
hold a test vote on a Democratic-sponsored automakers bailout bill Thursday but
held out the possibility for a last-minute vote an any compromise, which
remains elusive.But a Democratic leadership aide on the House side said a compromise had
little chance in the House.

Reid had planned to move to legislation that would have taken $25 billion
from the $700 billion already approved for Wall Street and divert it to the Big
3 automakers. But an aide told CNN he decided not to do that when it became
clear it would fall well short of the 60 votes needed to pass.

Reid did, however, make a procedural move that could allow a vote on a
compromise, which several senators from auto producing states are feverishly
trying to craft.

Still, a Democratic leadership aide suggested the reality that those
senators could come up with something “acceptable” — with the votes to pass
the senate and eventually the house — is not very good. Reid himself
acknowledged as much from the Senate floor.