Capital Commerce

Guess What, the Democrats Don't Need 60 Votes

Posted: October 28, 2008

One smart Capitol Hill observer E-mails me: "In my view, the Democrats will have a working majority even if they fall a few votes short of 60. One of the close races is Maine, but Republican Senator Susan Collins appears to be pulling away. If she wins, Democrats will often be able to get her vote and that of her Republican colleague Olympia Snowe on most domestic issues."

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you guys are idiots

it takes 67 votes to override a veto. The 60 votes is to invoke cloture – go back and study up, kids.

high school drop out of AK @ Nov 13, 2008 01:03:46 AM

high school government

i just learned about the 60 votes to override the veto today in my high school government class. your observer is not that smart get a new one

da schafe of OH @ Nov 12, 2008 19:51:47 PM

About those 60 votes

It's only necessary to override a president's veto. If the president signs the legislation presented, the 60 vote override does not enter into it.
It is assumed that a president of the same party as the majority in congress will ask for and get the legislation he/she wants and will sign it.
While that is historically never quite the case, the president has ofent signed the requested legislation even though it has been stuffed full of pork along with what was requested.

HillbillyBill of TN @ Oct 29, 2008 08:30:22 AM

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