The vote came as lawmakers geared up to grill top Goldman Sachs executives Wednesday about the Wall Street investment giant’s controversial actions in the run up to the worldwide collapse.
Amid anger at Goldman and other big banks, a new Washington Post/ABC poll found the US public backs tougher rules for Wall Street by a 65-31 percent margin. The error margin was plus or minus three percentage points.
US President Barack Obama’s Democratic allies, seeking an edge in November mid-term elections, have painted Republican opposition to the bill as evidence the White House’s foes are in the pocket of big banks blamed for the meltdown.
“There are no two ways about it: A vote against even opening debate on holding Wall Street accountable is a vote to protect Wall Street,” said a spokesman for Democratic Senate Majority Leader, Jim Manley.
Republicans, all 41 of whom recently signed a letter pledging to oppose the measure, say they will oppose starting the debate before bipartisan talks begun one year ago have run their course.
“I believe that 41 Republicans for right now are going to stand together,” predicted Senator Richard Shelby, the top Republican on the Senate Banking Committee.
