3 Republicans voted with Democrats on cloture

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Three Republicans joined all 58 Democrats and two independents to limit debate on a $626-billion Pentagon funding bill. Some Republicans had filibustered the defense bill to hold up the healthcare overhaul bill, which the Senate hopes to pass by Christmas.

The three Republicans who sided with the Democrats were:

• Susan Collins of Maine.
• Kay Bailey Hutchison of Texas.
• Olympia J. Snowe of Maine.

Four Republicans did not vote:

• Christopher S. Bond of Missouri.
• Jim Bunning of Kentucky.
• Saxby Chambliss of Georgia.
• John Cornyn of Texas.

The final vote on cloture was 63-33; 60 votes were required for passage. Now 30 hours of debate remain, with the final vote on the defense bill due by early Saturday.

-- Los Angeles Times