Article posted: 12/4/2012 7:33 PM

Republican opposition downs UN disability treaty

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Sen. John Kerry, left, listens as Sen. John McCain speaks during a news conference Monday to urge Senate approval of an international agreement for protecting the rights of individuals with disabilities.

ASSOCIATED PRESS

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Led by Republican opposition, the Senate on Tuesday rejected a United Nations treaty on the rights of the disabled that is modeled after the landmark Americans with Disabilities Act. With 38 Republicans casting "no" votes, the 61-38 vote fell five short of the two-thirds majority needed to ratify a treaty.