Well, to be fair, they voted to table an amendment to the $410B earmark-laden Spendibus bill that would have ended the automatic process put in decades ago.  Sen. Vitter (R-LA) proposed the amendment because Pelosi said that the Spendibus would be all or nothing.  She would not allow additional amendments in conference committee, so the Senate had to pass a “clean” bill. 

We all know it was a political stunt by Vitter to force the Senators to be on the record voting against this amendment.  I think it was a great tactic — Democrats do this kind of stuff all the time, especially since they can set the calendar at to which bills even make it to the floor for an up or down vote.  Sen. Reid (D-NV) did all he could to get Vitter to allow for this to be voted separately, even offering to vote on it right that second.  Vitter said no, and the vote went ahead, but not before Vitter said, “If you want to change the law that puts our payraises on autopilot while [the people] suffer … vote for this amendment.  If you want to kill that concept, vote against the amendment.”

The amendment was tabled by a vote of 52 – 45.   Michelle has more here.