Small Business Lending Bill Losing Steam In Senate

The Senate will hold a cloture vote any minute on a bill aimed at providing relief to small businesses. However, odds of passage don’t look good. Senate Majority Leader Harry (D-Nev.) announced last night that talks between parties had broken down over the GOP’s insistence to have their amendments voted on. A group of Senate Democrats will address the media following this morning’s vote. My colleague Rob Sanna will have more on the story later…

Reid Spokesman Responds To Republican BP Bailout Bill

Jim Manley, spokesman for Senator Harry Reid (D- Nev.) released a statement Wednesday responding to energy proposals from the GOP saying, “Republicans want taxpayers to foot the bill for BP’s disaster and allow BP to use endless legal battles to run out the clock on those whose livelihoods they destroyed – just like Exxon did to victims of the Valdez spill. Republicans should come to their senses and remember that they represent the American people, not BP. Our responsibility is to make sure the Americans affected by this disaster are made whole – not to protect BP’s profits.”

- Alexa Gitler