The Senate voted 61-36 just moments ago to pass a cloture motion on the economy recovery package, thus ending debate on the bill and moving to a vote on final passage. The motion received just one more than the 60 votes needed. Three Republicans — Sens. Susan Collins (ME), Olympia Snowe (ME), and Arlen Specter (PA) — voted with the Democrats.
The final up-or-down vote on the bill is expected to occur at noon tomorrow.
Update
Sen. Ted Kennedy (D-MA) returned to the Senate to vote on the bill. Kennedy told reporters outside the Capitol that, in his own words, “It’s time that we take action now.”
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