Reid Seeking To Set Up Series of Senate Auto Bailout Votes

Reid Seeking To Set Up Series of Senate Auto Bailout Votes
By Joseph J. Schatz and Kathleen Hunter, CQ Staff


Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was working Thursday to set up Senate votes on alternative approaches to an auto industry bailout.

Reid, D-Nev., was huddled with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell , R-Ky., shortly after the Senate convened at 10 a.m., attempting to work out a unanimous consent agreement on a limited number of full alternatives.

If that effort fails, Reid warned, he will make one effort Friday to proceed to a shell bill (HR 7005) that would be the vehicle for action, and toss in the towel if he is blocked in that attempt.

President-elect Barack Obama , speaking at a news conference in Chicago, urged the Senate to act.

“At this moment of great challenge for our economy we cannot simply stand by and watch this industry collapse. Doing so would lead to devastating ripple effect for our economy,” he warned.

“I’m hopeful that a final agreement can be reached this week,” he added.

Any measures put before the Senate for votes this week are likely to require 60 votes to advance — with or without formal cloture votes to limit debate.

more...

http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?docid=news-000002996565

vote on this bill?????

and that assumes all Democrats will vote for it. (Clinton and Biden can still vote as neither have resigned - Clinton won't until confirmed. i take the fact that they are saying a series of votes to mean that they don't have the numbers yet for a bill.

which is why Reid is approaching this way.

So why does any Senate bill require 60 votes to advance even without a formal cloture vote to limit debate?

Who is making these rules?

Another article indicated that even without a filibuster, the "bailout" legislation would need 60 votes to pass. Why is that and again who agreed to that?

The article further indicated that the bill would require the approval of 20 Republican Senators because at least 10 Democratic Senator would vote against the bill .... they favor the destruction of the domestic auto industry and the auto workers union!