Kennedy Casts Key Vote as Medicare Bill Passes

[Faygo Kid]

Source: New York Times

WASHINGTON — Senator Edward M. Kennedy returned to the Senate on Wednesday for the first time since being sidelined with cancer and was greeted by a bipartisan barrage of whoops, cheers and applause before savoring a legislative triumph. . . .

. . . Aye,” Mr. Kennedy said, flashing a thumbs-up when the clerk called his name. He was one of 69 senators to vote in favor, meaning that the bill has now a veto-proof majority in both Houses.

“I return to the Senate today to keep a promise to our senior citizens,” Mr. Kennedy said in a statement released by his office, “and that’s to protect Medicare. Win, lose or draw, I wasn’t going to take the chance that my vote could make the difference.”

The bill would block a 10 percent cut in Medicare payments to doctors because of a statutory formula that reduces payments to doctors when spending would otherwise exceed certain goals. The 69 “yes” votes were 9 more than required to invoke cloture, and under a previous agreement the measure was considered to be approved after clearing that procedural hurdle. The measure had stalled on June 26, falling just short of the 60 threshold. . .





Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/10/washington/10kennedy.html?em&ex=1215748800&en=ecc919c512b8667b&ei=5087%0A

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This was a very important vote, and Bush's back was broken. Ted Kennedy thought it important enough to show up (McLame didn't - only one), and its importance shouldn't be discounted here today. It's not just cloture; the bill has passed, and Bush will probably throw in the towel and sign it. (No senators voting yes will go back on it now.) So please don't discount this one. It's one of the biggest Dem victories in the past couple years, and helps millions of average people.

Kennedy's return on video here: http://www.breitbart.tv/?p=127843

[bluerum]

1. Glad to see someone finally post this. Some republicons broke ranks as well.

[Faygo Kid]

2. 18 Republican senators crossed over. Looks like somebody became a lame duck today.

This is such a big story not to get attention here, I'm glad you appreciate the post.

[aquart]

12. What's the story in those 18 states?

Do they look like pickups?

[annabanana]

3. Teddy shames all the no-shows.

What a Man!

[Faygo Kid]

5. "All" as in one stinkin' senator: McLame.

At least everybody else was there. Including Ted. I think the Dems can just pound McCain on this one: Too cowardly to show, the ONLY one, doesn't care about seniors. . . Yep, this is great stuff.

[aquart]

13. The senior who doesn't care about seniors.

Why should he? He's got his. Everybody else can die.

[DarthDem]

4. Thanks for This

Not only a great story about Teddy, but an awesome legislative accomplishment that, in the mid-to-long term, will be much more important than FISA.

[Indenturedebtor]

6. Say that about FISA now. When you wake up on a ship somewhere in the Indian Ocean...

Great work on the bill though.

[DarthDem]

7. Heh

Probably not going to happen. Especially since Obama, once elected, can help introduce new legislation to repeal any bad portions of the bill. Not sure why that's so hard to understand.

[Indenturedebtor]

15. I'll believe it when I see it. I can't take it on faith anymore

I've been cheated on in the past. I nearly universally just ended the relationship right there and ceased all contact. Kiss/Sex/Whatever. I feel right now like a complete and utter fool for trusting any of them.

[bluesmail]

8. We welcome you back, and we welcome your righteous vote.

Thank you, EMK. We wish you well.

[bear425]

9. Thank you Senator Kennedy for your tireless work

Thanks faygokid for updating us on this critical vote. I'm very relieved that this bill passed.

[EFerrari]

10. I needed to see one good person today.

:loveya:

[choie]

11. Kennedy is a hero, but can somebody explain to me

why he didn't take part in the FISA vote?

[aquart]

14. Dunno. How much energy does one have while dying?

[Fearless]

17. We're all dying, some just choose to do more with their time than others.

[bluerum]

19. He is undergoing chemo and radiation for inoperable brain cancer. I would

say he is dying faster than most of us.

He was probably exhausted as well. Hope this does not do him in.

[Fearless]

31. I seriously doubt it. Who are you to call for his death?

[aquart]

26. Well, my goodness.

Heartlessness AND ignorance.

[Fearless]

32. Clarify if you please.

[Faygo Kid]

16. Health care is the heart of EMK. Maybe this was also an important vote. Just maybe.

It will make a direct and positive difference in tens of millions of Americans' lives, that's all.

Maybe Ted Kennedy thought it that important, without discounting FISA. Maybe it ought to get that kind of attention here. Maybe.

[Fearless]

18. So long as we don't start saying he was complicit too.

[Catch22Dem]

20. Aside from dying? It was about numbers

His FISA vote wouldn't have been anything more than symbolic whereas this vote could have been much closer and he wanted to make sure it was veto proof.

[MiniMe]

28. His wife didn't want him to go at all because she thought it would be too hard

on him to travel. I thought he looked a little unsteady on his feet when I watched the video. I think that he only had one vote in him today, and he chose to cast it on medicare. While FISA is very important, his vote would not have made a difference today. Health care is the issue that is near and dear to his heart, and since the vote was 1 short last time he was thought to be the deciding vote. I also think that the other 9 repukes who changed got an earful over the 4th holiday from their constituents about Medicare. The other factor may have been Kennedy showing up to vote.

[bluesmail]

21. Senator Kennedy I have the deepest respect for you. Thank You

[Aragorn]

22. 2 points

Aside from Sen Kennedy's vote and McCain's cowardly/lazy position...

This will keep doctors from dropping Medicare patients even more, AND...

it will stop the extra payments to Medicare HMO/PPO groups, which were a part of the excessive costs far beyond what doctors' fees are. And those are the companies which limit which doctors can get paid, and how much etc. The original bush plan (along with Part D) is corporate welfare at taxpayer expense. And the HMO/PPO approach led more doctors to drop Medicare patients because it takes a lot longer to process a claim, which is often not paid in the end anyway.

I think this a far bigger victory for citizens than the headline states, for those reasons.

[Faygo Kid]

30. Agreed, and thank you. Most underappreciated victory at DU in my memory.

This was unbelievably huge in so many ways: Nearly 50 million people keep their health care; expanded for low income; mental health care restored; Bush's back is broken - the list goes on and on. Ted Kennedy knew how important this is. Here at DU, not so much.

Really pretty extraordinary to see the ho-hum reaction here to this gigantic win.

[defendandprotect]

23. It's a hugely important response to Bush's cuts . . . which would have

severely undermined health care for seniors. Doctors would have started cutting back
on Medicare patients --- adding to the already poor medical care in America.


Thank you Sen. Kennedy -- !!!

And we think Bush won't veto this . . . I hope you're right!

[DeepModem Mom]

24. K&R!

[2peaches2]

25. This is

Great news for all seniors and those who will be on the Medicare rolls soon. I bet there is going to be some Way that McCain is going to get credit for this passing like he is getting credit for Webb's GI bill.

[xchrom]

27. thank you senator kennedy -- you have displayed what it means

to be the Lion of the Senate -- thank you.

[Ian David]

29. If John McCain had shown-up, this wouldn't have worked. Yay, McCain! n/t

[Vidar]

33. Kennedy's a hero, in sharp contrast to "No Show McCain".

[mdmc]

34. good news

:patriot: