The Senate will vote Wednesday afternoon on what could be the biggest changes in U.S. gun laws in nearly 20 years. Senators will take up the proposal from Sens. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) and Pat Toomey (R-Pa.) to expand background checks on firearm purchases and close the so-called gun show loophole. The bipartisan plan is likely the strongest gun control bill that can pass this Congress, although it’s far weaker than the White House and many Democrats hoped for.
Nevertheless, it will require 60 votes to pass, and the White House and Democrats still lack the final votes they need.
(See also: Full coverage of gun control debate)
Voting on the Manchin-Toomey propsal is scheduled to begin at 4 p.m., and both opponents and supporters say the margin is razor thin at this point.
Even after nine votes on amendments, the Senate will not have finished work on a gun bill. A vote on final passage of whatever gun bill remains standing has not yet been set. Both Democrats and Republicans want to see how Wednesday’s showdown over one of President Barack Obama’s top legislative priorities plays out before making any decisions on whether they will let the underlying gun package move forward. Read more….