While Texas voters are conservative, in fact they favor environmental reform.

A majority of senators, perhaps 55, favor reform but to stop debate requires 60 votes.

On social issues like abortion and divorce, he favors liberal reforms.

Senator Chafee has also consistently favored reform over the years.

Their purpose is not to improve the bill but to fracture the coalition that favors reform.

But notable because they point to how a political majority favoring specific reforms may yet be assembled.

So will efficient Chinese companies, which generally favor faster reform and freer trade.

Even so, Democrats and Republicans who favor reform are not fully unified.

It is clear from the 252-to-177 vote in the House that a strong consensus in both parties favors reform.

The record now shows that all 45 Democrats (one of whom was absent yesterday) and 7 Republicans favor reform.