Washington ? A Senate committee defied President Bush and voted Wednesday to derail new federal overtime rules that critics say would prevent 6 million American workers from getting the bonus pay.

The Republican-run Senate Appropriations Committee approved the provision blocking the rules by a vote of 16-13. Two Republicans — Sen. Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania, who is seeking re-election this year, and Ben Nighthorse Campbell of Colorado, who is retiring — joined Democrats in supporting the proposal.

The language was offered by Sen. Tom Harkin, D- Iowa, who said new Bush administration overtime rules that took effect on Aug. 23 would deny the extra pay to many workers who had received it. Harkin said the new rules are “anti-worker, anti-job growth and anything but family friendly.”

The committee’s action was Congress’ second embarrassing rebuke to Bush in a week on the issue, and underscored the sensitivity that Republicans from labor districts have on overtime.