Senate clears way for debate on Toomey-Manchin gun bill
WASHINGTON -- It was a procedural vote, part of the Senate's arcane process, but it brought tears to the eyes of family members of those killed in Newtown in December.
WASHINGTON -- It was a procedural vote, part of the Senate's arcane process, but it brought tears to the eyes of family members of those killed in Newtown in December.
The Senate voted Thursday morning to take the first step toward considering the background-check bill sponsored by Pennsylvania Sen. Pat Toomey, a Republican, and West Virginia's Joe Manchin, a Democrat. While the vote will only allow debate to move ahead, it opens the door to up-or-down votes on the background check bill as well contentious plans to ban assault weapons and high-capacity gun magazines. Those debates are expected in the coming weeks.
Needing 60 votes to overcome a Republican filibuster threat, the Senate voted 68-31 to move ahead -- with 16 GOP senators joining Democrats to overcome the potential procedural blockade.