Scott Brown has announced today that he will vote in favor of the Democrats’ financial regulation bill, helping to clear passage through the Senate:

“I’ve spent the past week reviewing the Wall Street reform bill. I appreciate the efforts to improve the bill, especially the removal of the $19 billion bank tax. As a result, it is a better bill than it was when this whole process started. While it isn’t perfect, I expect to support the bill when it comes up for a vote. It includes safeguards to help prevent another financial meltdown, ensures that consumers are protected, and it is paid for without new taxes. That doesn’t mean our work is done. Further reforms are still needed to address the government’s role in the financial crisis, including significant changes to the way Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac operate.”

This decision follows Brown’s vote for the Obama administration’s second stimulus bill. While it was always clear that Brown was a moderate who would cast some votes with Democrats given the constituents he’s representing, so far, he hasn’t proven of much help to the conservatives who helped get him elected. Though Brown’s election derailed the health care push for awhile, it did not ultimately defeat the legislation. And since then he’s had a liberal voting record on key issues.