Kennedy Promises To Filibuster Medicare Bill

AP ^ | 11-22-03

[steppenwolffe]

Daschle Said To Oppose Option.

CAPITOL HILL -- Democratic Sen. Edward Kennedy is promising to filibuster the Medicare bill following an extraordinary three-hour House vote.

Republican leaders used the time to pursue GOP holdouts and finally win passage.

In response, Kennedy says he wants a fair vote in the House in exchange for dropping his filibuster.

Before the House vote, Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle said he would oppose a filibuster.

His spokesman says Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist would seek a vote Monday to end a filibuster.

The legislation's backers would need 60 votes to close off debate and hold a final vote on the Medicare legislation, which would give 40 million older and disabled Americans a prescription drug benefit and a new option for private health care coverage.

President Says Plan On 'Verge Of Success'

President George W. Bush praised the House for passing a bill that adds a prescription drug benefit to Medicare.

Bush devoted his weekly radio address to Medicare, delivering it just hours after the dramatic overnight vote.

The bill was passed by five votes after a nearly three-hour roll call that began at 3 a.m.

With House passage, the president said "we're on the verge of success" of modernizing and strengthening Medicare.

And with Senate debate under way Saturday, Bush appealed for final passage.

Bush urged members of Congress to "remember the promises we have made to America's seniors."

Overnight Battle Leads To Epic Medicare Overhaul

A Medicare overhaul bill with a landmark prescription-drug entitlement has been approved in the House after an epic overnight battle.

The final House vote was 220-215.

The initial roll-call early today showed the "no" votes in front by two. Democrats opposed to the measure had picked up the support of more than two-dozen Republicans. But after nearly three-hours of behind-the-scenes armtwisting by Republican leaders, several members switched their votes and the measure was approved.

It now goes to the Senate.

The $395 billion Medicare plan would give 40 million seniors and disabled Americans a prescription drug benefit and a new option for private health-care coverage.

Some Republicans objected to adding a new entitlement to Medicare. Most Democrats complained that the measure amounts to a giant giveaway for drug companies and could spell doom for Medicare itself.

[Batrachian]

Excellent. Kennedy filibusters this horrible bill and the Democrats get slammed for it next November. The best of both worlds.

Unfortunately, any bill this bad will eventually pass, but hopefully not soon.

[sourcery]

Even a stopped-brain socialist may be right once in a lifetime.

[Burlem]

Isn't it time that Kennedy and Daschle went to their rooms to stay,until their terms are up! All they do is show their muscle "Not going to rubber stamp everything this president wants".

[Batrachian]

Maybe the Bushes will give him another award!

[ml/nj]

My sentiments, exactly.

ML/NJ

[OneTimeLurker]

Maybe my emails did the trick!

[Jeff Chandler]

This is rich. Kennedy is already running the Senate and the Judiciary, now he wants to run the House!

[Huck]

could spell doom for Medicare itself

That sounds pretty good to me.

[ambrose]

Agreed. I am worried that the Bush-Rove Administration would cave to Kennedy and make this bill even worse.

[ambrose]

Agreed. I am worried that the Bush-Rove Administration would cave to Kennedy and make this bill even worse.

[ambrose]

Who would have thought that the day would come where we'd be rooting for Ted Kennedy to carry out his filibuster threat?

[Rightone]

Is there anything Congress doesn't filibuster anymore these days? Super majority needed for everything seems to be the rule of the day for democrats.

[ClintonBeGone]

Go Teddy Go!

Give that man a scotch!

[ClintonBeGone]

Is there anything Congress doesn't filibuster anymore these days? Super majority needed for everything seems to be the rule of the day for democrats.

Sometimes that's a good thing. Lets hope they don't do that to the internet tax ban.

[Aeronaut]

Get him up there talking. He won't last 5 hours without a scotch and water...

[Batrachian]

Yes, it's worth saying twice. I hear that Republicans are trying to make "caving" an Olympic event. Lord knows they're good at it.

Oh, well. At least when I'm a seasoned citizen I can count on free prescription drugs, assuming the government isn't bankrupt by then.

[Fintan]

In response, Kennedy says he wants a fair vote in the House in exchange for dropping his filibuster.

 

No problem, Ted.

 

And while you're ejaculating out your blow-hole, tell us what happened to Mary Jo Kopechne.

 

[small voice in the wilderness]

I don't think ted has the physical fitness necessary to perform a long fillibuster. That's all republicans need, ted kennedy to fall backwards and to the left of the podium. Live on national t.v. Talk about the mother of all conspiracies!

[Maynerd]

Oh no! Teddy's driving the Democrat Senate car. Watch out big boy, there's a bridge up ahead.