What’s going on behind closed doors tonight in Washington?
The headlines earlier today declared the UAW bailout “dead” or “stalled.” The stories were cause for (momentary) cheer.
But the fix is in, as I’ve said from the start. Now, we will see if the GOP mavericks are truly up to the task of carrying through the filibuster threat.
I linked to the Corker amendment endorsed by Mitch McConnell earlier this afternoon. Are these concessions enough? What exactly are labor leaders going to agree to? It’s the subject of heated negotiations going on through the night — while taxpayers are left in the dark.
Dingy Harry is buoyed by the revived chances:
Prospects for an auto industry bailout revived in the U.S. Senate on Thursday as surprise negotiations on a compromise moved forward and a vote was possible later in the day.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said on the Senate floor that the deal, if struck, “would overwhelmingly pass” the chamber that just hours ago seemed resigned to sending the automakers back to Detroit empty-handed.
The scenario at the core of the possible compromise was proposed by Sen. Bob Corker, a Tennessee Republican, who would grant loans under stricter conditions than favored by Democrats and the White House.
“Good faith negotiations are going on as we speak,” Reid said.
“Good faith” and “Reid” and “unions?”
