US Infrastructure Bill Fails First Vote; Senate to Try Again 

WASHINGTON - Senate Republicans rejected an effort Wednesday to begin debate on the big infrastructure deal that a bipartisan group of senators brokered with President Joe Biden. But supporters in both parties remained hopeful of a better chance soon.

Democratic Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York had scheduled the procedural vote that he described as a step to "get the ball rolling" as talks progress. But Republicans mounted a filibuster, saying the bipartisan group needed more time to wrap up the deal and review the details. They sought a delay until Monday. "We have made significant progress and are close to a final agreement," the informal group of 22 senators, Republicans and Democrats, said in a joint statement after the vote. They said they were working to "get this critical legislation right" and were optimistic they could finish up "in the coming days."