Capitol Hill – Alabama's Richard Shelby and Jeff Sessions joined other Senate Republicans to block a move by Democrats to add more funding for the elderly, the unemployed and disabled veterans to the economic stimulus bill.
The additions, pushed by Senate Democrats, would've added more than 40 billion dollars to the measure, by providing checks to some of those excluded from a tax rebate proposal.
Wednesday's vote, 48-41, fell just short of the 60 votes needed to break a GOP filibuster and bring the stimulus bill closer to a final vote.
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