The Senate on Thursday rejected rival proposals to stop the sequester, ensuring the $85 billion in automatic spending cuts will begin on Friday.

A bill crafted by Senate Democrats won 51 votes, while a Republican alternative won only 38 votes. Three Democrats — Sens. Mary Landrieu (La.), Mark Pryor (Ark.) and Kay Hagan (N.C.), who are all up for reelection in 2014 — voted against their party’s bill, which fell 51-49.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) also switched his vote to “no,” a procedural move that would allow him to bring the bill to the floor in the future. 

Both plans needed 60 votes to advance, and as expected, neither came close to meeting that threshold. …

Sen. Mazie Hirono, who supported the Democrats’ plan, issued a statement that included these remarks: “Letting these arbitrary spending cuts go into place is no way to run a government. They are bad for our national security, bad for our economy and bad for jobs. …”

Sen. Brian Schatz also voted for the Democrats’ plan.

He said about the Republican proposal. “President Obama has clearly stated that he will veto this proposal because it’s not a realistic solution and is a dangerous approach to addressing the deficit. We can avert this disaster through smart reductions in domestic and defense spending, and by closing tax loopholes.”

Photo courtesy Glyn Lowe Photoworks.

—Chad Blair