Cloture Vote on Medicare Bill Passes
Wednesday, 9. July 2008
(Updated 4:45 pm MDT) This afternoon the U.S. Senate passed comprehensive Medicare legislation (H.R. 6331) by virtue of a cloture vote 69 to 30. In a surprise appearance, Senator Edward Kennedy returned to the Senatte floor to vote on this measure Senator Kennedy’s surprise appearance and vote made the difference.
The bill is a Medicare package designed to address a scheduled decrease in physician payment rates, as well as other matters. If signed into law by the president, this bill would also repeal the Medicare Competitive Bidding Demonstration Program for Clinical Laboratory Services.
The legislation now goes to the President for either his signature or veto. The Bush Administration has previously threatened to veto the Senate-passed bill, due to its opposition to certain provisions cutting funding for the Medicare Advantage program. If the President vetoes the bill, a two-thirds vote of both the House and Senate would be required to override it.
With the 69-30 vote in the Senate, and the 355-59 vote in the House, it would appear that the bill would have the necessary 2/3 majority to override a presidential veto.
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