By Helen Dewar
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 16, 1999; Page A7

Republicans failed for a third time this year to break a Democratic filibuster against the most stringent version of GOP-drafted legislation to bar Congress from dipping into Social Security surpluses for spending increases or tax cuts.

On a largely party-line vote of 53 to 46, Republicans fell seven votes short of the 60 needed to overcome the Democrats and force the Social Security "lockbox" bill to a vote. The only Republican voting with the Democrats was Finance Committee Chairman William V. Roth Jr. (Del.).

The Senate plans another vote today on a less rigorous version of the legislation, which was approved last month by the House. Minority Leader Thomas A. Daschle (D-S.D.) said Democrats will oppose that measure, too, unless Republicans agree to let them offer amendments, including one to include Medicare under the same budgetary protections as Social Security.