Specter defies Democrats on first major vote since switch

Sen. Arlen Specter (Pa.) voted against the budget resolution Wednesday, bucking his new party in his first major vote as a Democrat.

Earlier this month, when he was a Republican, Specter voted against the $3.5 trillion budget, which reflects President Obama’s plans to reform the healthcare and education system and wean the country off foreign oil.

Interestingly, the last person Specter greeted before casting his vote against the Democratic budget was Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), who also voted against the resolution and is known as one of the most conservative Democrats in the upper chamber. Then, after casting his vote, he spent several minutes talking to Senate Minority Whip Jon Kyl (R-Ariz.), whose job is much harder now that his party controls just 40 Senate seats.