Medicare vote expected Monday (65 against filibuster - 4pm final vote)

[papau]

Medicare vote expected Monday in SenateSenate avoids Democratic filibuster

WASHINGTON (CNN) --The Senate Monday voted down the possibility of a filibuster that could have blocked passage of a contentious bill to overhaul the nation's Medicare system.Sixty votes were needed to end debate on the issue and avoid the filibuster threatened by some Democrats. At least 65 senators voted in favor of ending debate.A separate vote on whether to pass the bill is expected at about 4 p.m.

<snip>"What we're considering is a rewrite of Medicare," said Kennedy. "Medicare works well -- our seniors have great confidence and trust in it. It's the relationship between seniors and their doctors and the health care system that's being undermined."The bill would put Medicare in competition with private insurance companies for the first time, he said. It "will mean a minimum 25-percent increase in premiums for every senior in this country. ... Beyond that, they'll now see billions of dollars sent to HMOs."

<snip>Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-California, said Sunday that she will vote in favor of the bill, "not because it's perfect, but because I believe it will bring needed help to my state."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/ALLPOLITICS/11/24/elec04.medicare/index.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Not so fast, CNN

we'll see..........

[Flubadubya]

2. My democratic senator, Blanche Lincoln is voting for it too...

It's really too bad our guys are motivated more by pork than principle. I just hate that!!! Get Tought Dems! -- Oh well -- :thumbsdown:

[annak110]

3. Feinstein's state needs something alright

but it isn't the destruction of Medicare or the placing of an additional fiscal burden on the people.

[Bandit]

5. Feinstein stated she had received more than ten thousand letters

opposing the Iraq War Resolution and only a couple for it but she voted for it anyway. What does she care what the people think? She sold out long ago. California is getting their just rewards I fear.

[mac56]

7. Feinstein voted yes on the war resolution because -

her husband, Richard Blum, is part owner of URS. URS is a worldwide engineering firm which has gotten significant military rebuilding contracts in the past year (along with Halliburton, Bechtel, etc.).

Not sure what possesses her to vote for the Medicare bill.

[LastTime2BeFree]

13. Interesting concept

Is there a link that confirms your supposition?

[PaDUer]

14. Yes, this was posted

on DU awhile ago..It's no wonder why she's in support of this war...her hubby's bringing home the $$$$$..

[PaDUer]

16. Here's a load of proof...read and now you know.

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&lr=&ie=ISO-8859-1&q=URS+owned+by+Richard+Blum&btnG=Google+Search

[reprobate]

19. Bandit, it seems the rest of the country .......

....is getting it's "just rewards" now too.

[qanda]

4. Just called both of my Senators--

I hope you are doing the same.

[UpInArms]

6. related article

Kennedy Fails to Prolong Senate Medicare Bill Debate

http://quote.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=10000087&sid=a3OqwNjbLqdM&refer=top_world_news

Nov. 24 (Bloomberg) -- U.S. Senator Edward Kennedy and his fellow Democrats failed in a midday attempt to block a vote on a $395 billion Medicare bill to revamp Medicare, the federal health- insurance program for the elderly and disabled.

The Senate, including Tom Daschle, the Senate minority leader, voted 70-29 to cut off debate, preventing a filibuster. Kennedy needed 41 votes to continue debate indefinitely and delay final action on the bill.

The vote sets 30-hour limit on debate on the Medicare bill. Kennedy, who voted for the legislation that created Medicare in 1965 and helped broker a bipartisan Senate bill in June, says the House- Senate compromise legislation will undermine traditional Medicare.

...more...

any medical students out there that could send Daschle a spine?

[PROGRESSIVE1]

8. This is why people DO NOT bother voting! Most of them are...

owned by someone or the other!

:puke:

[fizzana]

9. It won't do much good but I sent Diane Feinstein an e-mail

letting her know she's just lost 2 votes.

[edzontar]

10. Thank you Sens. Daschle. Feinstein

And other TRAITORS to America.

You have betrayed us all-AGAIN!!!!!

What a fine week for our party.

No money from me for the Congressional or Senatorial campaigns this year...sorry--its all going to Dean and other INDIVIDUAL candidates who stood against the Repuke tide of evil.

Feinstein and Daschle are a disgrace.

[adriennel]

11. what IS wrong with Daschle?

Seriously. First he was for the Medicare Bill, now he is against it?
I am so tired of seeing this man flip-flop. This is what gives Dems a bad name, imo.

[fizzana]

17. I'm not defending Daschle but the first version of the bill was

written by the Senate and was fairly reasonable. I think he supported that bill. Then the bill was hijacked by the Republicans in the House and it mutated into the scam it is now.

How the hell can these people be voting on a complex bill that has barely seen the light of day and has certainly not been studied. The damn thing only comes into play in 2006 so what's the rush?

[SharonAnn]

18. He was for the Medicare bill that the Senate passed and it was

close to the bill the House passed.

However, on conference, the House rewrote the bill and it's frankly unacceptable. That's why Daschle is against THIS bill and was for the OTHER bill.

[annak110]

20. He does this all the time-kind of a pattern for a lot of "Democrats"

Oh, I'm against that! Oh, but I'll vote for it anyway!

[LastTime2BeFree]

12. TRAITORS to America

I'm not sure that can be an accurate statement. Certainly they are "TRAITORS to party beliefs" but America is defined by its politics and is only subject to the indifference of the current ruling party.

America is what we make it...not what others think she is.

[ramapo]

15. Just makes you want to throw up

Now we'll have to listen to the endless self-congratulations...on and on they'll go about how they're saving lives and helping seniors, finally after 40 years.

What gets me is that nothing happens until 2006. There are no benefits! So this is all about nothing except politics.

Could they have created a more complicated "benefit" plan?

Never mind the hugh payoffs.

Arghhhhhh!!!!!!!!!