CRPD Fails in Senate

The Senate this afternoon voted down the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (aka the Disability Treaty), with 61 votes in favor (all of the Democrats, plus 8 Republicans) and 38 opposed   (all Republicans).  With Senator Kirk still absent, the treaty needed 66 votes to obtain the constitutionally mandated two-thirds, so treaty supporters fell 5 votes short.  I'm not sure why they brought the treaty to the floor if they didn't have the votes, but that kind of issue is above my pay grade.  I will say that Senators Ayotte, Barrasso, Brown, Collins, Lugar, McCain, Murkowski, and Snowe should be proud for upholding our Nation's bipartisan tradition of supporting disability rights.  Senator McCain, in particular, gave a great speech (as did Senator Harkin among the Democrats).