Senate Republicans block debate on escalation resolution

Democrats cannot overcome GOP filibuster threat.

Published February 5, 2007 10:55PM (EST)

Senate Republicans have just succeeded in preventing a debate on a nonbinding, bipartisan resolution that opposes George W. Bush's escalation of the war in Iraq.

The resolution -- first introduced by John Warner and then modified in a deal with Carl Levin -- would likely win an up-or-down vote on the Senate floor, but Senate Republicans used the threat of a filibuster to keep such a vote from happening. In a vote on the Senate floor, Democrats failed to overcome that threat with a cloture vote. It's not clear whether that's the end of the matter; Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid has just asked for reconsideration and sent the Senate into what appears to be a period of time-killing 10-minute speeches.

Salon's Michael Scherer, who has been watching the proceedings from inside the Capitol today, will have more details in War Room soon.


By Tim Grieve

Tim Grieve is a senior writer and the author of Salon's War Room blog.

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