al.com – Alabama, Mississippi senators help kill federal deficit reduction commission

Alabama, Mississippi senators help kill federal deficit reduction commission

Of the four, only Mississippi Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Tupelo, supported the amendment. His colleague, Sen. Thad Cochran, R-Oxford, voted no, as did Alabama Sens. Jeff Sessions, R-Mobile, and Richard Shelby, R-Tuscaloosa.

Although the measure collected 53 votes — normally enough to win approval from the 100-member Senate — it failed under a rule that in this case required 60 votes for passage. A total of 46 senators voted no.

In a statement, Wicker said the commission approach “could give lawmakers some impetus to make the hard decisions that are in the best interest of the country.”

al.com
1/25/10