Sen. Brown Switches Vote To Back Financial Bill

Sen. Scott Brown has decided to back a financial regulation bill a day after voting against it.

Brown said he switched his vote, giving Democrats the 60-40 majority needed to cut off debate, after receiving promises from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on issues related to Massachusetts.

Brown had voted against the bill on Wednesday after first indicating he would support it.

That prompted President Obama to criticize Brown on his Facebook page. Mr. Obama faulted Brown for telling Senate Democrats he would support the bill and then standing "with the big banks' lobbyists."

Massachusetts colleagues Sen. John Kerry and Rep. Barney Frank were among those who pressed Brown.

The bill calls for new ways to watch for risks in the financial system and makes it easier to liquidate large financial firms that are failing.