“Shame on them,” cried Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-IL).

[kentuck]

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/08/senate-republicans-filibuster-transportation-housing-bill.php?ref=fpa

<snip>
At a Capitol press conference immediately after the vote, Democrats, flanked by construction workers, fumed over the filibuster, accusing McConnell of arm-twisting his members and letting concerns about his reelection drive the outcome. The vote comes one day after House Republicans abruptly pulled THUD legislation from the floor, which cuts deeply into housing and transportation programs, after deciding it lacked the votes to pass.

McConnell said afterward that his opposition was driven by a desire to “keep our word” on spending levels agreed to in 2011. TPM asked him if he’ll insist on keeping domestic spending at sequestration levels but he dodged the question, saying he wouldn’t negotiate publicly.

<snip>
Democrats haven’t decided what they’ll do next. Lawmakers will go home this weekend and not return to Washington until September. The filibuster is a blow to the hopes of reaching an accord to keep the federal government open after funding runs out on Sept. 30, because the plan was to pass a bill through the Senate and pressure the House.

“It would be so unfortunate if we go home to our constituents in August and are forced to tell them that we’re unable to do our job,” Collins said before the vote.

.....more

[Tx4obama]

1. Roll call of the T.H.U.D. 'cloture' vote - link below

Here: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=113&session=1&vote=00199

Looks like Sen Susan Collins (R-ME) was the only Republican that voted yes with the Democrats.


Collins said something yesterday (after the ATF director nomination vote) about how she believes folks shouldn't vote 'no' on cloture but only on the final vote, see below

-snip-

Collins told reporters that despite her “concerns” about Jones’ nomination, “I believe the way to express those concerns is to vote no on his nominations rather than voting no on cloture. I think that there are too many filibusters in the Senate, and that we need to move forward on bills and on nominations and let the Senate work its will.”

-snip-

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2013/07/filibuster-deal-nearly-falls-apart-atf-director.php?ref=fpa

http://www.democraticunderground.com/1014553659#post6

[kentuck]

2. It's still all about Obamacare.

They want to pretend they are going to shut down the government because we are "spending" too much and they are using the debt limit as an excuse. They think they can win with the Obamacare issue once again, like they did in 2010.