WASHINGTON (AP) — Senate Democrats on Thursday rejected a bid by Republicans to cut back spending on transportation and housing programs to keep them in line with automatic spending cuts required under the rules set by a budget deal two years ago.

The 56-42 vote killed a move by conservative Pat Toomey, R-Pa., to cut the price tag for the huge spending bill by $9 billion to bring it in line with an austere House measure that cuts community development grants, housing subsidies and funding for Amtrak.