***scroll for updates…12:41pm EST. Cloture fails. Senate votes to block the defense spending bill 56-44..1020pm EST: ANWR provision dropped….***

Just in: “The Republican-controlled Senate passed legislation to cut federal deficits by $39.7 billion on Wednesday by the narrowest of margins, 51-50, with Vice President Dick Cheney casting the deciding vote.”

Unfortunately, the LA Times points out that the bill “would trim about $3 for every $1,000 the government would otherwise spend.” Sigh.

Meanwhile, Russ Feingold and Barbara Boxer are now on the Senate floor bloviating about the ANWR drilling provision in the military spending bill, pushing for a “no” vote on cloture.

Stay tuned…

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Tim Chapman at Townhall.com writes:

While the GOP did pass the final legislation today, they were ultimately defeated by the Dems. Before final passage, Democrats raised a budget point of order that effectively amended the bill. By amending the bill, Senate Dems ensured that final passage was out of reach because by rules, both the House and Senate must pass identical legislation. The House is out of session now, so Democrats have succeeded in punting final passage until next year unless the House reconvenes – which is highly unlikely.

For now, it seems the Dems have outmaneuvered the GOP.

I repeat: Sigh.

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H.R. 2863

11:05am EST. There is so much hot air coming out of Sen. Robert Byrd (“I love him! I love him! I love the Senator from Alaska! I feel his blood runs with my blood! I. Love. Him. But I love the Senate more!“) that I am beginning to believe that global warming is real.

11:30am EST. John Kerry is complaining about political expediency. Next.

11:35am EST. Maria Cantwell: “What’s next? Will we be drilling off the coast of Florida? The Great Lakes?” And what’s your solution, Sen. Cantwell? Windmills?

12:30pm EST. Vote on the floor. 60 votes needed to invoke cloture.

12:41pm EST. Cloture fails. Senate votes to block the defense spending bill 56-44.