US Senate clears way for 26 billion dollar spending bill

WASHINGTON: US senators cleared the way Wednesday for passage of a 26 billion dollar spending measure to fund education in cash-strapped states and health care for low-income Americans.

The chamber voted 61-38 to end debate and procedural moves to clear the way for the bill to help provide more funding to states squeezed by the economic crisis.

A final vote was expected on Thursday.

The bill contains 16.1 billion dollars to extend funding for the Medicaid program for low-income Americans. It also adds 10 billion dollars for education, a move that backers say would save 100,000 teacher jobs.

"When our children start a new school year this fall, their classrooms will be less crowded and there will be a teacher at the blackboard. That's what today's vote promises," Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said ahead of Wednesday's vote.

Republican Senators Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe joined Democrats in the procedural vote, enabling Democrats to get the 60-vote supermajority needed to end debate.

Democrats said the new spending was offset by some new revenue measures.

The bill would need approval from the House of Representatives, which is on recess until September.