Feinstein may back drug bill for seniors [View All]

[Freddie Stubbs]

Moderate Dems could give Bush a major victory

Washington -- California Sen. Dianne Feinstein is among a handful of moderate Democrats who are poised to vote for the Medicare prescription drug bill, potentially handing President Bush an enormous domestic policy victory heading into next year's elections.

Health care lobbyists predicted Wednesday that the highly controversial reform measure -- which would constitute the biggest expansion of Medicare since it was created in 1965 -- will pass the House and Senate by the end of this week with the aid of moderate Democrats in both chambers.

Feinstein is often a bellwether in the Senate on significant bills that aim for bipartisan support. When she said she was "inclined" to vote for the measure, most vote counters put her in the unofficial "yes" column.

"There are still a number of serious issues that need to be examined, but I am inclined to vote for it depending on how the scoring comes out," Feinstein said Wednesday. "The California medical community has lined up in favor of the measure, and for lower income people who have nothing now, it's a good bill."

more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2003/11/20/MNGDO368UK1.DTL