BROWN VOTES – AT 6:56 P.M. ET:  Newly minted Senator Scott Brown has cast a vote, and some conservatives won't be happy.  From the Washington Post:

The Senate voted Monday to advance a $15 billion jobs-creation measure, giving Democrats a key victory as they seek to reverse their declining political fortunes by emphasizing legislation to boost the economy. The chamber is now poised to pass the measure later this week.

Five Republicans, including new Sen. Scott Brown (Mass.) joined 57 Democrats in voting to proceed on the jobs bill, after a suspenseful buildup in which members of both parties wondered whether Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) could cobble together enough votes to proceed.

Reid lost the public support of several Republicans after discarding an $85 billion jobs package negotiated by Sens. Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and Charles E. Grassley (R-Iowa) in favor of a narrower bill. GOP leaders complained that Reid had spurned a bipartisan deal negotiated in good faith.

Republicans Christopher Bond (Mo.), Susan Collins (Maine), Olympia Snowe (Maine) and George Voinovich (OhIo) joined Brown in deciding to back the bill anyway. Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) was the lone Democrat to vote against the measure, which advanced, 62 to 30.

COMMENT:  No need to panic.  Look at the numbers.  Brown's vote was not decisive.  The Dems needed only 60 votes.  Without Brown, they would have had 61. 

Brown is involved in a balancing act, and he's a smart guy.  He represents one of the most liberal states in the country, and must keep to his pledge to work across the aisle whenever possible.  His vote did not make a difference in the outcome, and was a symbol of "bipartisanship."  Forgiven.

February 22, 2010