Legislation to fund US gov't through April clears procedural hurdle in Senate

The U.S. Capitol dome is pictured in the pre-dawn darkness in Washington in this file general view photo taken October 18, 2013. REUTERS/Jonathan Ernst/Files

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A bill to fund the U.S. government cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Friday and appeared poised to pass the chamber, averting a government shutdown.

The vote, 61-38, came after Democrats who sought more generous healthcare benefits for coal miners in the bill, ended their attempts to delay action on the measure.

(Reporting by Susan Cornwell)