Senate Republicans made good on their threat to filibuster a Democratic small-business tax cut bill today, ensuring the bill fell seven votes short of what it needed to move forward.

The Senate voted 53-44 to limit debate on the bill and move to final passage, but 60 votes were needed to overcome the filibuster.

Before the bill was filibustered, the Senate killed, 57-41, a proposal by Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) that would extend a raft of tax cuts to small business, including expanded expensing for certain capital investments. Sixty votes were needed to move it forward. The chamber also tabled, 73-24, a House small-business tax break bill. Democrats have criticized the House bill because they say wealthy individuals, such as Paris Hilton, could also take a tax break.

The Senate small-business bill would provide tax breaks for business that add to their payrolls, either through new hires or increased pay, and would allow businesses to accelerate the way in which they deduct business expenses.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) argued Republicans would typically support the small-business bill save for their desire to deny the president a political victory ahead of the November elections. “There is no reason for them to oppose this bill other than to hurt President Obama,” Reid said today.