In a rare weekend session, the House voted 173-246 to defeat Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's $2.4 trillion plan to reduce the deficit and raise the debt ceiling. The vote was a symbolic gesture to underscore Republican opposition to the Senate plan. The Senate similarly defeated a House-passed plan by House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, on Friday evening. Negotiations are focused now on the Senate, where Reid is attempting to find a compromise with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., that can pass both chambers and be signed by President Obama before the nation begins to default on its debts on Aug. 2. McConnell notified Reid on Saturday that he has enough Republicans to block the measure. A critical test vote on Reid's plan is expected at approximately 1:00 a.m. EST Sunday.
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