The most sweeping overhaul of US financial regulation since the Great Depression was on track to fail its first procedural test today in the Senate, where Republicans vowed to block the Democratic bill.
As Wall Street reeled from revelations out of a fraud case against Goldman Sachs, both sides in the Senate were locked in negotiations toward a bipartisan compromise, with Republicans holding out for a bill more to their liking.
President Barack Obama and the Democrats want tighter bank and capital market rules to prevent a repeat of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. Some Republicans see a need for reform, but say the Democrats' bill is an overreach by government.
After months of work, the Democrats are seizing political momentum, boosted by the Goldman case, but they need at least one Republican to side with them in a late-afternoon procedural vote to begin formal debate in the Senate.
Senator Richard Shelby, the lead Republican negotiator on the issue, predicted his party would stand firm in blocking debate to seek greater leverage in talks with Democrats.
"If we hang together on the floor, we can create critical mass," he told a banking group today.
If Democrats fall short, the setback would be temporary. Neither side wants to be seen as siding with the deeply unpopular financial industry ahead of congressional elections in November.
Republicans have struck a conciliatory tone and said they expect a final bill to pass by a wide margin.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid could bring up the bill again later in the week if Republicans block it today.
The future shape and profitability of the banking industry hangs in the balance, more than two years since the worst financial crisis in generations unleashed reforms worldwide.
The stakes are high for Mr Obama. Since the passage of his landmark healthcare restructuring, he has sharply criticized Wall Street in speeches backing the Democratic bill.
Reuters