As Kennedy Returns, Senate Votes to Block Medicare Pay Cut for Doctors – enough to override a veto

As Kennedy Returns, Senate Votes to Block Medicare Pay Cut for Doctors – enough to override a veto – HR 6331

Well this one won’t be vetoed hopefully as it can be overridden, good news. This will hold us off until next January until we may once again go through the same motions,

unless a new plan is developed between now and then. He surprised everyone and wanted to make sure his vote was cast. Some Republicans still hold stance on their position and I’m sure the web will have a listing online soon. Senator McCain was absent during the vote so perhaps he though it would not make a difference? The insurance companies lose, or at least for the next 6 months. BD

Video with Kennedy’s return can be seen here.

Kennedy issued this statement: "I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens -- and that's to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wanted to be here.

Then, when all the votes are tallied, the bill passes by a vote of 69-30 — a wider-than-expected margin that will be enough to override a promised presidential veto (unless a few senators change their votes).

The bill passed by the Senate is the same one passed by the House by an even wider margin a few weeks back. It blocks a 10.6% cut in Medicare payments to doctors that was supposed to go into effect on July 1. And it takes some funding away from Medicare Advantage, the privately run Medicare plans that cost the government more than traditional Medicare.