Dems to target McCain for Medicare non-vote

[Hope And Change]

Dems to target McCain for Medicare non-vote

By Manu Raju and Jeffrey Young
Posted: 07/08/08 07:53 PM ET

Senate Democratic leaders are poised to blame Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) for the chamber’s failure to advance Medicare legislation.

The measure that would avert a sharp cut in payments to physicians stalled in the Senate on June 26 by one vote. McCain, the GOP presidential candidate, did not attend the vote and has yet to declare his position on the issue.

Any one of the 39 Republicans who voted no could rescue McCain from a politically damaging situation. One GOP leadership aide hinted that Texas Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison, among the no votes, is “concerned” about the impasse but has yet to reveal her intentions.


Hutchison would not comment on whether she would reverse course and support advancing the bill, her spokesman said.

In the meantime, Democrats keep pointing to McCain.

“There’s nothing to stop (the cut) unless the Republican senators give us one more vote, and we’d like to know where John McCain is on the issue,” said Senate Democratic Whip Dick Durbin, a national co-chairman of fellow Illinois Sen. Barack Obama’s presidential campaign.

The stalemate has prompted doctors’ groups to launch blistering attacks against Republicans who supported the filibuster. The bill would prevent a 10.6 percent cut in payment rates for doctors who operate under Medicare, and would be paid for by cuts to private plans known as Medicare Advantage, a central point of contention.


http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/dems-to-target-mccain-for-medicare-non-vote-2008-07-08.html">Read the entire article here

[blondeatlast]

1. McSame's non-votes could be just as damaging as the ones he's voted

wrongly on.

Like that pesky New GI Bill he couldn't be bothered with even if he takes credit for it...