Senators opposed to President Bush?s plan to rewrite federal overtime regulations succeeded Tuesday in delaying a huge federal spending bill, but the win may be short-lived.

Senate Minority Leader Tom Daschle, D-S.D., told reporters that it is unlikely Democrats can continue to hold out against the $373 billion appropriations bill, which contains many important provisions for funding the federal government. He and other senators, however, said the Bush plan to gut overtime eligibility must be stopped.

On a 48-45 vote, Daschle and other senators defeated a motion for ?cloture,? to close debate on the bill. Sixty votes were needed to stop debate and bring the measure to a vote. The roll call took place just after the Senate had reconvened for its 2004 session.

Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., said the spending bill will be on Wednesday?s Senate agenda and Daschle said it was likely to pass sometime this week. He pledged, however, to attempt other legislation to fix the overtime proposal, which the Bush administration wants to put into effect in March.

Economists estimate that, under the Bush plan, as many as 8 million American workers would lose their ability to earn overtime pay, meaning they would work longer hours for no more money.

?At a time when manufacturing jobs continue to be shipped overseas and families are anxious about the future, it would be cruel? to implement the new regulations, which have been proposed by the Department of Labor, Daschle said.

Many speakers tied the overtime issue to the Bush administration?s dismal record of job creation ? the worst since the Great Depression. ?Employers are unwilling to hire, so they require more overtime,? noted Senator Jack Reed, D-R.I. If they force people to work overtime for no extra pay, employers will have little incentive to add jobs, he said.

?Right now, Americans work longer hours than any other worker in any other industrialized nation,? said Senator Tom Harkin, D-Iowa. He called the Bush plan a ?slap in the face? to workers.

Earlier in the day before a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, Labor Secretary Elaine Chao defended the Bush plan, saying it was an attempt to update and clarify federal regulation. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Richard Trumka also addressed the subcommittee, calling the Bush proposal an attempt ?to gut the 40-hour work week.?

In addition to the overtime provision, some senators who voted against cloture were upset with a two-year delay in a requirement that all U.S. meat be labeled with its country of origin. They said labeling is needed in light of the country?s first case of mad cow disease, calling it a jobs issue for rural America.

How Minnesota's senators voted: Senator Norm Coleman voted for cloture and in favor of ending debate. Senator Mark Dayton did not vote.