Senate Democrats sidetracked a $575 billion defense bill for next year late Thursday and threatened to shut down Congress' work on spending legislation, accusing Republicans of shortchanging domestic programs. The move prompted the leaders of each party to testily accuse the other side of dysfunction.

Both parties support the defense measure itself. But Democrats fear that if it is completed and sent to President Barack Obama, they would lose leverage with the GOP for future spending measures financing health, public works, law enforcement and other domestic programs.

The Senate voted 50-44 to head off a Democratic filibuster of the bill but fell 10 short of the 60 votes needed, effectively stalling the measure.

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