US terrorism insurance bill fails to get vote in Senate

WASHINGTON - The US Senate failed to reach an agreement to hold a vote on a bill extending a federal terrorism insurance programme due to expire at year-end, effectively killing the measure until the next Congress convenes in January, a senior Democratic aide said on Tuesday.

The House of Representatives passed the bill last week to extend the programme created after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks, but Oklahoma Republican Senator Tom Coburn wanted to make last-minute changes.

Earlier on Tuesday, Senator John Thune, a member of the Senate Republican leadership, told reporters any changes would likely doom the bill for the year because the House would not likely consider them.