Senate kills bill to curb discrimination in housing

The Senate killed legislation to provide sweeping powers to crack down on housing discrimination by refusing to end a filibuster against the bill. The defeat of the legislation -- called by Democratic leader Robert Byrd the most important piece of civil rights legislation of the decade -- made adjournment of Congress before the end of the week a virtual certainly. The bill was pulled from the Senate floor after failing to gain the 60 votes needed to break the filibuster. The vote was 54 to 43,6 short of the required number.