WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Senate refused to consider a resolution on Saturday denouncing President George W. Bush’s Iraq troop buildup that the U.S. House of Representatives passed the day before.

For the second time in two weeks, the Senate voted not to debate a non-binding measure that would repudiate Bush’s recent decision to send 21,500 troops to Iraq to bolster security in Baghdad and Anbar province. The Democrats had wanted to bring the measure to the floor but failed to overcome Republican resistance.

The vote was 56 in favor and 34 against. Under Senate rules, 60 votes were needed to bring the resolution to the floor for debate. Before the vote, Democrats argued in vain for minority Republicans to break with Bush and support taking up the measure.

Read more at Reuters

Seven Republicans voted for debate: Senators Coleman (R-MN), Collins (R-ME), Senators Warner (R-VA), Hagel (R-NE), Specter (R-PA), Smith (R-OR) and Snowe (R-ME).