US Senate leans toward passage of budget deal

WASHINGTON, D.C.: A bipartisan US budget deal looked increasingly likely to survive a crucial Tuesday test vote, as lawmakers in Congress aim to end a legislatively miserable 2013 on a positive note.

Members of both parties acknowledge the vote in the Senate will be close, but on Monday it appeared there would be enough Republicans joining rival Democrats to head off attempts to block the measure, which has already passed the House of Representatives.