Senate Moves to Vote on Tax Bill: Bingaman opposes, Udall supports

A controversial tax cut package moved one step closer to a vote in the Senate today (LINK) with Sen. Jeff Bingaman opposing the effort and Sen. Tom Udall supporting it — but not for the reason you might think.

 Bingaman and Udall have both expressed serious reservations (LINK) about the tax cut proposal, which would extend tax breaks for the nation’s wealthiest. Udall continues to dislike the proposal but in recent months he has railed against threats of filibusters (LINK) to jam up the U.S. Senate, and that’s why he voted to allow the package to move to a vote of the full Senate.

 ”Today, I voted to move the Senate forward to a straight up or down vote on this tax proposal,” Udall said in a statement provided to the Journal. “While I still have serious concerns with the package, there has been adequate time to study it and now we must do our jobs and vote. I have continually fought against obstruction and needless delay in the Senate and refuse to contribute to our dysfunction by voting to delay further this bill’s consideration.” – Sen. Tom Udall