Senate debates health care, rejects GOP amendment

[ProSense]

Senate debates health care, rejects GOP amendment

Washington (CNN) -- Senate Republicans failed Saturday to eliminate $42.1 billion in cuts to Medicare home health care service in the health care bill.

The 53-41 vote shot down a motion offered by Sen. Mike Johanns, R-Nebraska, that would have sent Majority Leader Harry Reid's sweeping $848 billion reform plan back to committee with instructions to remove all home health care cuts.

Johanns objected to the cuts, saying that the services "help some of the most vulnerable Americans."

Democrats say the bill instills needed reforms to ensure the long-term solvency of the government-run Medicare health program for senior citizens.

In response, Sen. John Kerry, D-Massachusetts, offered Saturday an amendment to protect home health benefits.

The Senate passed the amendment 96-0, on the sixth day of Senate debate on Reid's 2,074-page bill.

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[rwheeler31]

1. This is the great debate,and we are winning.

[Cha]

2. A lot of years and a lot

of amazing work.

Keeping Senator Ted Kennedy in mind and thanking him for all his intense focus on Reforming America's Health Care System.
.

[impik]

8. Some people just fail to understand what an achievement this would be

[wildflower]

3. I don't understand

Why is cutting home health care a good thing?

[jtrockville]

5. Johanns offered a motion (read: delay); Kerry offered an amendment.

If I understand correctly... both parties agree that home health care shouldn't be cut. The Republican's response (Johanns's motion) was to derail the bill because it contained cuts to home health care, whereas the Democrat's response (Kerry's amendment) was to amend the bill to remove the cuts.

Not sure why the headline referred to Johanns's nonsense as an amendment.

[wildflower]

9. Ah, okay. I think I get it now

Thanks! :hi:

[jtrockville]

4. (removed: I meant to reply to wildflower)

[quantass]

6. Another 400+ BS Ammendments by GOP to Go. (Lets play the stalling game)

[impik]

7. Isn't there a time limitation?

Seriously, i'm ignorant in the matter.

[Mass]

11. Reid could propose a cloture vote, but, at this point, it is doubtful he has the vote with

all the idiots on the RW of the democratic party.

[Mass]

10. It was not an amendment to eliminate cuts. It was an amendment to stop debate and send the bill back

to Baucus. Talk about misleading title by CNN.

[sakabatou]

12. Joy!