Senate rejects Cybersecurity Act for second time

A chorus of voices that included Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and other top national security officials was not enough to convince the Senate to pass the Cybersecurity Act of 2012 during a second vote on the controversial legislation on Sept. 14, reports The Hill.

A procedural motion to move forward on the Cybersecurity Act, which was introduced by Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) and Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine), was rejected in a 51-47 vote, the story said. 

Senate Republicans objected to the bill this past summer on the grounds that it would put burdensome new regulations on the private sector, the story said.

Efforts of members from both parties to negotiate a compromise on the bill were futile, the story said. At this point, any legislative action on the pressing topic will have to occur next year.