The Cybersecurity Act of 2012 (S. 3414) moved one step closer to possible passage when the United States Senate voted 84 to 11 to allow an open amendment process when the bill is taken up for floor debate, Latham & Watkins report.

The Bill still faces an uphill battle to passage in its present form, in the face of opposition to government regulatory intrusion from business groups and key technology companies, as well as a lack of support within the Republican-controlled House of Representatives.

According to Baker Hostetler, there is widespread support among Democrats, Republicans, and the White House on the need for cybersecurity legislation, but there is fierce disagreement over what it should look like.

At least 1/3 of the Senate is very sensitive to lobbying by key constituencies and Members may decide that the Hippocratic oath / political rule of thumb “first, do no harm” means don’t pass an obscure bill the public isn’t clamoring for.