WASHINGTON (AP) — The Democratic-controlled Senate is on a path toward defeating tea party attempts to protest President Barack Obama's health care law by delaying a must-pass emergency spending bill.

A vote to press ahead with the funding bill Wednesday comes after a bid by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz to publicize his criticism of the health care law. As of 3 a.m., the freshman Republican had held the Senate floor for more than 12 hours.

Republican leaders and several rank-and-file GOP lawmakers had opposed Cruz's time-consuming effort with the end of the fiscal year looming.

The House-passed measure is required to prevent a government shutdown after midnight Monday and contains a tea party-backed provision to "defund" implementation of so-called "Obamacare." Cruz is opposed to a Democratic plan to remove the Obamacare provision.

More From KGAB