Senate Democrats scuttle a vote on spending bill

WASHINGTON (AP) — Apparently fearing that the top Senate Republican might score a political win, Democrats for the second time in a week cancelled a preliminary vote on a major spending bill.

At issue was an amendment by Senate GOP leader Mitch McConnell that would have allowed the Kentucky Republican and Appropriations panel member to successfully go to bat for his state’s coal industry as the spending panel was to consider on Thursday a measure funding the Energy Department and other agencies.