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The Senate on Thursday cleared a major hurdle on a gun background check bill, voting 68-31 to overcome a filibuster of the bill. However, the ultimate fate of the bill is uncertain as it is likely to face another filibuster attempt before any vote on final passage.
With polls showing that as many as 90 percent of Americans want to see enhanced background checks for firearms, many GOP senators were wary of filibustering the motion to proceed to the bill even if they eventually vote against it. Several Republicans voted with the majority of Democrats, while only a handful of Democrats voted to sustain the filibuster.
The Republicans who voted against the filibuster are Sens. Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, Kelly Ayotte of New Hampshire, Richard M. Burr of North Carolina, Saxby Chambliss of Georgia, Tom Coburn of Oklahoma, Susan Collins of Maine, Bob Corker of Tennessee, Jeff Flake of Arizona, Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, Dean Heller of Nevada, John Hoeven of North Dakota, Johnny Isakson of Georgia, Mark S. Kirk of Illinois, John McCain of Arizona, Patrick J. Toomey of Pennsylvania and Roger Wicker of Mississippi.
Democrats voting for the filibuster were Sens. Mark Begich of Alaska and Mark Pryor of Arkansas.
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