Senate Shoots Down Permanent Doc-Fix Bill

[Mass]

So, 13 Dems voted against it.

http://washingtonindependent.com/64698/senate-shoots-do...

Senate Shoots Down Permanent Doc-Fix Bill
Digg Tweet By Mike Lillis 10/21/09 3:00 PM

Citing budget concerns, the Senate on Wednesday killed a $245 billion proposal to scrap the controversial formula that dictates doctor payments under Medicare.

The vote count was 47 to 53 — 13 votes shy of the 60 needed to defeat a GOP filibuster.

Though many opponents support the underlying policy, the new spending wasn’t offset, leaving lawmakers on both sides of the aisle to blast the legislation as fiscally irresponsible.

“Americans are increasingly alarmed by the expansion of our national debt and this spending binge that we’re putting on the national credit card,” Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said prior to the vote.

At issue was the sustainable growth rate, a Medicare formula that’s called for physician payment cuts in almost every year of the last decade, threatening seniors’ access to care and leaving Congress to step in with temporary fixes — effectively kicking the can down the road. Sponsored by Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.), the bill would have eliminated the formula once and for all, allowing Congress to establish a new method of updating doctor payments that better reflects the cost of treating Medicare patients.

“This is about strengthening and protecting Medicare,” Stabenow said just before the vote.

Wednesday’s vote means that Democrats will have to find another way to prevent a 21.5 percent pay cut from hitting Medicare doctors next year, likely with a temporary patch that will eliminate the cut but keep the formula in place. The Senate Finance Committee bill includes a one-year band-aid, at a cost of just under $11 billion.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said before the vote that, if the measure failed, Democrats would push a multi-year solution at an unspecified later date.

[ind_thinker2]

1. why did he bring this to floor?

this bill is very important for robust PO tied to medicare

[derby378]

2. UnitedHealthCare is pleased that the needs of doctors must give way to corporate greed

Stephen Hemsley and his hourly salary of $57K thank you for your acquiescence.

[ProSense]

3. "Though many opponents support the underlying policy, the new spending wasn’t offset,"

What a bullshit cop out.

[high density]

4. Where in the hell was the alarm when they were voting for trillions in rich tax cuts and wars?

Ridiculous.

[ProSense]

5. Dems who voted no:

Roll call

Bayh (D-IN)
Byrd (D-WV)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feingold (D-WI)
Kohl (D-WI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Nelson (D-FL)
Tester (D-MT)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)

[tkmorris]

8. There's Nelson, knew I could count on him

Damn I wish he'd take up basejumping or freestyle rock climbing or something. Jackass.

[dionysus]

9. why russ?

[Mass]

6. Roll call here.

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/r...

[madfloridian]

7. When Medicare payments to doctors go down 21%, remember these names.

Bayh (D-IN)
Byrd (D-WV)
Conrad (D-ND)
Dorgan (D-ND)
Feingold (D-WI)
Kohl (D-WI)
McCaskill (D-MO)
Nelson (D-FL)
Tester (D-MT)
Warner (D-VA)
Webb (D-VA)
Wyden (D-OR)


They only balk when it involves seniors needs. Funding wars is just fine and dandy with them.

[ind_thinker2]

10. Here are No voters ( Does not look like PO haters)

In the end, 12 Democrats and one Independent joined all 40 Republicans in voting against the bill. Among those in the Democratic Conference voting no were: Sens. Byron Dorgan (N.D.), Robert Byrd (W.Va.), Kent Conrad (N.D.), Joe Lieberman (ID-Conn.) Jon Tester (Mont.), Jim Webb (Va.), Mark Warner (Va.), Ron Wyden (Ore.), Herb Kohl (Wis.), Russ Feingold (Wis.) Bill Nelson (Fla.), Evan Bayh (Ind.) and Claire McCaskill (Mo.). The primary argument among opponents of the measure is that it should contain offsets.

The vote could have been even worse had Reid, Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and lead bill sponsor Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) not lobbied a number of Democratic holdouts, including Sens. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) and Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.), who ultimately voted with Democratic leaders. Lincoln, who could face difficult re-election next year, appeared to be particularly pained by the vote and waited almost until the end to cast her vote.



******Surprisingly Linchon and Landrieu voted yes*******

I guess Lieberman is the one to worry about final HCR floor vote

[Thrill]

11. Another fake filibuster.

.