Lamar Alexander has cyst removed from back

U.S. Sen. Lamar Alexander missed his chance to vote against a $14 billion auto bailout because he was home recovering from back surgery.

The 68-year-old Republican didn't travel to Washington after having a cyst removed from his back. Alexander's spokesman Lee Pitts declined to give more details on the surgical procedure, including when or where it took place.

Fellow Tennessee Republican Sen. Bob Corker led the charge against the bailout, and Pitts says Alexander would have also voted against the proposal that failed in the Senate Thursday.

Alexander won all but one county when he was elected to a second six-year term last month. He is a former two-term governor who also ran for president twice.