Members of the Senate today voted 51-48 to block an effort to let employers opt out of some Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) coverage requirements for reasons of conscience.
Senators voted mostly along party lines.
Sen. Olympia Snowe, R-Maine, who earlier this week announced plans to retire from the Senate, voted with the Democrats.
The two independents in the Senate, Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut and Bernard Sanders of Vermont, also voted with the Democrats.
The Democrats who voted with the Republicans, in support of the PPACA conscience exemption measure, are Robert Casey Jr. of Pennsylvania, Joseph Manchin of West Virginia, and Ben Nelson of Nebraska.
Sen. Roy Blunt, R-Mo., introduced the measure, Blunt Amendment Number 1520 to S. 1813, the Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act (MAP-21) bill.