Senator Ted Kenney (D-MA) unexpectedly flew back to Washington yesterday. He’d been home getting treatment for a brain tumor, but showed up on the Senate floor (to a standing ovation from both sides) to vote on the Medicare bill that stops a 10.6 percent cut in payments to physicians. The bill will lower fees paid to the private insurance companies brought into the Medicare system by the Rebublicans in an effort to begin privatizing (profitizing) Medicare through the “Medicare Advantage” program.
Kennedy’s vote was the crucial 60th needed to move the bill forward. Once he voted, nine Republicans reversed their vote from the one made on June 27. One of the reversals was Senator John Cornyn (R-TX).
The final vote was 69-30. NPR’s Morning Edition said that Kennedy’s vote “was unnecessary” given the nine reversals. I disagree. Kennedy’s vote caused the reversals.
The only senator to miss out on the action? John McCain
Tags: , Medicare, Medicare Advantage, S.3101, Senator John Cornyn, Senator John McCain, Senator Ted Kennedy