WASHINGTON – One more — and closer to final — step in the process to making debit card swipe fee reform a reality is closer to completion. Yesterday President Obama praised three GOP senators for supporting the financial regulatory overhaul bill conference report: Senators Olympia Snowe (ME), Susan Collins (ME) and Scott Brown (MA). Their crucial support means that the Senate has secured the necessary votes to streamline final passage and block a filibuster attempt.
 
Congressional Quarterly reports that Obama commented, "Three Republican senators have put politics and partisanship aside to support this reform. And I am grateful for their decision, as well as all the Democrats who have worked so hard to make this reform a reality.”
 
Meanwhile, Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) also announced his support for the conference report, noting that “small businesses in his state approved of language that would limit debit-card fees, while community banks backed a change of FDIC premiums that will benefit smaller institutions,” writes the news source.
  
"This reform is good for families; it's good for businesses; it's good for the entire economy," Obama said.