As he predicted it would, Sen. John McCain's (R-Ariz.) amendment to the omnibus appropriations bill was voted down today on a 32-63 roll call vote. McCain's measure would have wiped out the $410 billion bill and kept most federal spending for fiscal year 2009 at its 2008 level.

"Right now we are laying a huge debt, a debt on our children and grandchildren which is not in keeping with our responsibilities," McCain said. "I urge my colleagues to vote for this...amendment. I doubt if it will be passed."

As he did yesterday, McCain called out some of the earmarks that are attached to the omnibus and called on President Obama to veto the final bill. "The whole process has to be fixed," he said.

Just two Democrats voted for the amendment, while nine Republicans voted against it. The Senate will take up further amendments to the bill later this afternoon.