'Cut, Cap & Balance' Bill Fails in the Senate

Democrats in the U.S. Senate, as expected, Friday blocked a Republican plan to reduce deficits by $5.8 trillion over 10 years -- far more than President Barack Obama and congressional leaders are discussing in private negotiations.

The Democratic-controlled Senate killed the measure that passed earlier in the Republican-controlled House of Representatives, which also calls for passage of constitutional amendment requiring balanced federal budgets. (Reporting by Richard Cowan; Editing by Vicki Allen)