[plain talk]

Were the 56 votes for cloture (4 short of 60 needed) or were they against cloture which would mean 18 short of the 60 needed?

I had same question. Lousy editing.

[mdwakeup]

The vote was not on cloture. The amendment was brought up by a unanimous consent agreement that also provided that it would have to receive 60 votes or be withdrawn. Therefore, it was a straight up-or-down vote on the drilling proposal -- not a procedural vote. The 42 votes were for the drilling proposal; the 56 votes were against it.