[Mister Baredog]

For future reference, it takes 60 votes to invoke cloture, so therefore it would take *41* votes to guarantee that cloture will not be approved.

Actually it takes 3/5's and since Specter and Inouyi had left town 40 was all that were needed.

[AuH2ORepublican]

"Actually it takes 3/5's and since Specter and Inouyi had left town 40 was all that were needed."

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My understanding is that it takes 3/5 of the entire membership of the Senate regardless of how many members are present. That's why a crapload of RATs can go home during a filibuster and the GOP can't break the filibuster with their 55 votes.