UPDATED: The proposed $14 billion bailout of the automobile industry failed to garner enough votes to move forward in the U.S. Senate Thursday night. Neither of Massachusetts senators cast ballots on the measure, though their votes likely would not have influenced the outcome.

The proposal needed 60 votes to move forward through the cloture motion. It received 52 votes, but 35 voted against it. U.S. Sens. Edward Kennedy (D-Hyannis Port) and John Kerry (D-Boston) were among the 12 senators that did not cast votes.

Kerry is out of the country this week, representing the United States at a United Nations conference on climate change in Poznan, Poland.

A spokesman for Kennedy did not immediately return a request for comment.

Even if Kerry and Kennedy had voted,  the bill likely wouldn't have had enough votes to pass as it only garnered support from 10 Republicans. According to news reports, the bill was unable to gain Republican support because the United Auto Workers would not agree to wage cuts Republicans requested.

The bill would have provided $14 billion in loans to the auto industry's Big Three on the condition that they make specific restructuring reforms.

UPDATE, Friday, 8:03 P.M.: Kerry's office told PolitickerMA.com later Friday that Kerry was in close contact with the Senate leadership about the vote and had planned to return from Poland if his vote was needed. Kerry's office also pointed out that Kerry was representing the United States in high level negotiations in Poland.