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Neither $61B Republicans’ cut nor Democrats’ $6.5B reduction is approved. Showdown lies ahead.

WASHINGTON — As expected, the U.S. Senate failed Wednesday to advance either the House Republicans’ spending bill or an alternative proposal offered by Democrats, leaving lawmakers just nine days to work on a compromise plan or face a government shutdown.

The vote in the Senate was 44-56 on the plan approved by the Republican-led House last month, which would cut current spending levels by $61 billion. A subsequent vote on the alternate proposal from Senate Democrats, which offers cuts of $6.5 billion, failed 42-58.

The vote comes as President Barack Obama faces new pressure to exert greater influence over the congressional debate. As the Senate on Tuesday readied for votes on the competing measures, freshman Democrat Sen. Joe Manchin, W.Va., accused both parties of engaging in “political theater.”

Sen. Bob Casey, D-Scranton, chairman of the Joint Economic Committee, released a statement after the vote saying it was all about balance.

“The votes today illustrate that a balance must be struck between cutting spending and taking actions that would cost jobs, hurt economic growth and hurt local communities,” he said.

Obama huddled with Senate Democratic leaders for a strategy session just hours before the Senate vote. Earlier, the White House issued yet another veto threat of the House GOP’s budget proposal.