Permitting Reform Clears Senate Hurdle 73-25; Now the Hard Part

Good news, for a change, out of Washington. Last night the U.S. Senate voted 73-25 to take up the Bipartisan American Affordability and Jobs Act (BAAJA, S. 5653), the permitting reform bill we've been tracking since September. It needed 60 votes and got 13 more than that. As we told you in our Oct. 29 countdown post, if the bill had failed this vote, it was dead for this Congress (see Permitting Reform Countdown: Who’s For, Who’s Against Before Nov 9). It didn't fail. But don't pop the cork on the champagne bottle just yet. Last night only opened debate. There are more Senate votes to come, and then the House, all in the next 54 days before this Congress ends on Jan. 3. Here's what happened, what comes next, and when.

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