Emperor Scott Brown has spoken: Let there be bank reform.
The Massachusetts Republican, who has broken all recent records for making the transformation from complete unknown to Master of the Senate in the shortest period of time, announced on Monday that he would vote yes on the Dodd-Frank bank reform bill.
Brown's decision would appear to solidify the bill's chances of passing. Fifty-seven Democrats, Brown and Maine Republican Susan Collins are all in favor. If Maine's other GOP senator, Olympia Snowe, is also a yes, the Democrats could pass the bill immediately. Otherwise, they will have to wait for a replacement to be appointed to fill the seat of Sen. Robert Byrd, D-W.V.
From Brown's statement:
I've spent the past week reviewing the Wall Street reform bill. I appreciate the efforts to improve the bill, especially the removal of the $19 billion bank tax. As a result, it is a better bill than it was when this whole process started. While it isn't perfect, I expect to support the bill when it comes up for a vote.
Lesson to future reformers: Get Sen. Brown's permission first, before trying to do anything. Any other strategy is just too much hassle.
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