This morning's votes came out to 48 in favor of moving onto the amendment process, 36 opposed to the continuing debate, and 16 Senators were not present to vote. However, of the 16 absent Senators, Environment and Public Works chairwoman and bill co-sponsor Sen. Boxer said she had received verbal commitments of intention to vote for cloture from 6 additional Senators.  That would have brought the total to at least 54 "AYE" votes - a record high for any previous climate bill.  (And perhaps more importantly, a record low of senators opposing passage environmental legislation.)   
 

Contributing greatly to today's legislative-environmental breakthrough were the TEN Senators who voted "yes" on cloture this morning but who had opposed similar bills in 2003 and 2005:  Baucus (D-MT), Levin (D-MI), Lincoln (D-AR), Nelson (D-NE), Pryor (D-AR), Dole (R-NC), Martinez (R-FL), Smith (R-OR), Sununu (R-NH), and, of course, Warner (RVA).

If any of these Senators represent you, I highly recommend breaking out an old fashion pen and note card to send in a sincere thank you note for their enlightened, inspiring, historic, and much appreciated vote on behalf of our planet!  (I know I will be)