The Nation - News from June 30, 1988

Senate Democrats failed in a bid to shut off debate on labor-backed legislation to regulate plant closings and layoffs in companies with more than 100 employees, and a last-minute Republican offer to compromise on the bill was spurned by its chief backers. The 58-39 test fell two votes short of the 60 needed to invoke cloture, but Democrats are confident that eventually they will prevail on the bill, which commands widespread popular support. Majority Leader Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.) cut short the Senate’s Fourth of July recess and scheduled another vote to end debate for Wednesday.