(CNN) - The Senate's first attempt to make a change to the economic stimulus package failed Tuesday night, a sign that Republicans do have some power to change how the bill is structured.
The vote was on adding $24 billion in infrastructure spending on things like highways, mass transit and improvements to water and sewer systems. Had the amendment passed, the Senate's version of the economic stimulus package would have topped $900 billion.
The procedural vote that would have allowed the Senate to waive the budget rules and move forward on the amendment failed.
Democrats needed just two more votes to proceed on the amendment. The provision failed, with a vote of 58 in favor and 39 opposed. A three-fifths majority was required on the motion.
The vote was mostly along party lines. Only three senators broke ranks: Sen. Arlen Specter, R-Pennsylvania, and Sen. Kit Bond, R-Missouri, voted in favor of it; and Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-Louisiana, voted against it.
From CNN Politics
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All they want to do is Obstruct! The country needs action and the GOP gives us the same old tactics. As far as policy, all they can say is tax cuts, We need to remind them that we tried their tax cuts for 8 years and gues what, it didn't work then and it won't work now. That's exactly what "insane" means, continue doing the same thing that doesn't work and expecting a different result. The country overwhelmingly rejected the GOP and their policies and they still don't get it. The GOP can be summed up in two words, Idiots and Hypocrites.
It's not that the republicans want Obama to fail. It's just that with this plan, he can't succeed.
To Senator McConnell, I bet the hundreds of thousands of your people in KY wish they had an updated power grid, you Idiot.
President Obama you will do just fine without Pelosi and Reid ......and watch old Hog Jaw McCain he is still Bitter
I'll predict how those plantation repuglicons will vote: Just like they always do when the coutnry is in a fix – NO!
I'm giving 4-to-1on my prediction – Any takers?
Why did Mary from LA vote against it when her state was pummelled by lack of $ for infrastructure and Hurricane Katrina?
Please somebody tell these people to sit down and be quiet before we run them completely out of Congress!
Republicans should just pack up and go home! They have no business saying anything after how they've screwed the country for the last eight years!!!!!!!!!