Senate forces more debate on spending-cut bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Senate on Wednesday failed
to overcome Democratic objections to a $39.7 billion
spending-cut bill, forcing changes to the measure that would
also have to be approved by the U.S. House of Representatives.

By a vote of 52-48, the Senate failed to set aside
objections by Sen. Kent Conrad, a North Dakota Democrat, over
some health care provisions in the bill. Republicans needed to
get a minimum of 60 votes to beat the Democratic move. The
legislation was passed by the House on Monday.

The move added a new wrinkle to Republicans’ year-long
efforts to pass a budget bill that would cut social welfare,
such as Medicare and Medicaid, student loans and other
programs.

With Vice President Dick Cheney on hand in case his vote
was needed to break a tie, lawmakers had been braced for a
narrow vote on the nearly $40 billion spending bill

Before voting, Democrats criticized the measure’s cuts to
programs for the poor.

“It’s an attack on the middle class and those in greatest
need on behalf of lobbyists for the powerful,” said Senate
Minority Leader Harry Reid, a Nevada Democrat.