It has been reported that a bill extending unemployment benefits failed on Thursday to win the 60 votes needed to bring it to the floor in the U. S. Senate.

According to the reports of The New York Times, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., joined Republicans for the procedural vote. The final tally was 57-41.

Both Democratic and Republican leaders blamed the other party. He would not make another attempt next week to get the extension to the floor, said Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev.

Reid said at a news conference, "You'll hear a lot of excuses. The bottom line is the minority just said no."

It was also reported that Senate Minority Leader, Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said he would not back tax increases or any bill making the deficit larger. McConnell proposed using $10 billion left over from last year's stimulus bill to fund a one-month extension of unemployment benefits and some other social safety net measures.

McConnell has said, "The only thing Republicans have opposed in this debate are job killing taxes and adding to the national debt. Their commitment to deficit spending trumps their desire to help the unemployed."

White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs said President Barack Obama "will continue to press Congress to pass this bill and bring relief that's critical to our economic recovery."

Gibbs said in a statement released by the White House, "This legislation extends benefits for Americans looking for work and would save the jobs of thousands of teachers, firefighters and police officers by providing relief to states struggling with budget shortfalls. And it includes tax cuts for businesses that keep research and development jobs here in the United States."

Republicans "obstructed a common-sense package that would save jobs, extend tax cuts for businesses and provide relief for American families who have suffered through the worst economic downfall since the Great Depression, even after Democrats offered multiple compromises to gain Republican support for the bill," Gibbs further added. (With Inputs from Agencies)