Democrats look at Senate GOP trio to win votes for Wall Street reform

Three Senate Republicans are in the spotlight as possible
votes for a Wall Street reform bill.

Sens. Susan Collins (Maine), Bob Corker (Tenn.) and Judd
Gregg (N.H.) are all seen as gettable votes by Democrats, who plan to bring
their financial overhaul legislation to the floor next week.

Collins has declined to sign a letter circulated by GOP
leaders that would commit Republicans to voting against the legislation
prepared by Senate Banking Committee Chairman Chris Dodd (D-Conn.).

Corker, a Banking panel member who worked with Dodd on the
financial overhaul legislation, was disappointed when Dodd ended their talks
and introduced a bill on his own. Still, Corker has said he believes some
differences between Republicans and Democrats on the legislation could be
bridged.

{mosads}Gregg, the retiring chairman of the Budget Committee who
nearly joined the Obama administration last year as Commerce secretary, has
criticized Democrats this week for not trying to conclude work on Wall Street
reform in a bipartisan manner. He’s also faulted a rush to the floor on the
bill.

But Gregg has predicted the legislation will pass and
rejected some GOP criticism of the legislation this week as over-the-top.

Sen. Jack Reed (D-R.I.), an influential member of the
Banking panel, on Friday floated the names of the three Republicans as the most
likely GOP votes for financial reform.

“I hope that, among the Republicans, there are some people
who want to support consumers and the American public,” Reed said during an
appearance on MSNBC.

“We’ve had some consideration and cooperation by people like
Judd Gregg, Bob Corker, Susan Collins, and there are others. And I just hope we
have those votes.”



None of the three Republicans are up for reelection in
2010.

Democrats are likely to need more than one Republican to
join them on the financial overhaul.

Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.), one of the upper chamber’s most
conservative Democrats, has withheld support for the legislation because of
concerns over new regulations it would place on insurance companies.

Sens. Evan Bayh (D-Ind.) and Ted Kaufman (D-Del.) also have
reportedly held back from endorsing the legislation.

Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin (Ill.) said Thursday he
is not certain Democrats would have all 59 votes in their conference for a
motion to proceed to the bill.

Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) has led the charge against the financial
bill, calling it legislation that perpetuates government bailouts of financial
institutions.



Dodd filed
his bill with the full Senate on Thursday evening, and Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has signaled his intention to bring it to the floor next
week.

Reid’s timeline sets up a key procedural vote on a motion to proceed that might
be seen as a test for Republicans, staking out which — if any — GOP senators
are willing to break ranks.

Democrats appear to be daring Republicans to vote against the bill in a belief
that public opinion will punish lawmakers seen as protecting big banks.

Reed stepped up the rhetorical pressure on his colleagues on
Friday, characterizing the choice in that vote as siding with the middle
class or with Wall Street interests.

“I think, frankly, this vote is going to be very telling,” Reed said. “Those
who vote against moving forward to debate this bill … are saying we support the
big banks right now, which are making a huge amount of money.”