Sen. Richard Shelby (R., Ala.) predicts that his 41-member caucus will keep it together today and block Harry Reid’s effort to curtail bipartisan negotiations and push forward with the Dodd financial regulation bill. Reid has scheduled a cloture vote to open debate for today at 5 P.M..
Shelby seems confident that he will reach a deal with Dodd sooner rather than later, freeing up Republicans to support the bill.
But do the Democrats really want a deal? American Prospect editor Robert Kuttner has it that both President Obama and Barney Frank have personally urged Dodd to freeze out Republicans.
More at On the News.