Senate musters the votes for aid to states
Reporting from Washington —
Overcoming the threat of a Republican filibuster, the Senate on Wednesday cleared the way for approving a $26-billion aid package for cash-strapped states that is expected to keep 138,000 teachers from being laid off nationwide and sustain medical care for the poor.
The Senate is scheduled to give its final approval to the bill Thursday. And House Speaker Nancy Pelosi called her chamber, which has already begun its August recess, back into session next week for a vote Tuesday to approve the Senate bill and send it to President Obama for his promised signature.
