As expected, the Senate rejected Majority Leader Harry Reid's, D-Nev., motion to invoke cloture on cybersecurity legislation (S 3414) on Wednesday evening by a roll call vote of 51-47. Despite all of the back-and-forth, supporters actually lost one vote compared to when the bill came up in August. While Democrats and the White House have been strongly in favor of some type of security baseline for critical infrastructure providers, Republicans and industry remain strongly opposed to any attempt to regulate cybersecurity for private companies. Several sponsors released statements expressing disappointment with the vote.
Today's vote, while expected, will once again put the onus on the White House to deliver on its threat of implementing large portions of the bill via executive order. How far the administration can go on cybersecurity without Congressional approval is uncertain, but going it alone appears to be the only road for the the White House and other advocates of new cybersecurity laws.