Reply #85: Party-line vote, i.e. all Dems voted against, alll Repubs for,

[MH1]

according to this release from Kerry:

http://sbc.senate.gov/democrat/record.cfm?id=252698

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee passed legislation this morning on a party-line vote sponsored by Chairman Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) that would allow trade associations to sell group health plans to small businesses. The Enzi bill is controversial because it targets its assistance only to members of Associations and preempts important state benefit mandates without giving states the choice of opting out, among other provisions.

Kerry is not on that committee, but he is ranking member of the Small Business Committee. AHP's are very relevant to small business, and of course Kerry has also been very involved in health care issues even though he isn't on the committee (I guess one Senator can only be on so many committees). So it is natural that he would put out a press release on this. The main focus of the release is the Democrat's alternative bill, S. 2382. Follow the link or see my post upthread for more info on S. 2382.

And as mentioned upthread, Nelson, a D (nominally) who cosponsored the rethug bill, is not on the committee.