Medicare Bill Fails to Get Enough Senatorial Support

On Thursday, S. 3101 failed to receive the 60 votes needed for cloture with a 54-39 vote. What this means that as of July 1, doctors who treat Medicare patients will get a 10% cut in reimbursements from Medicare. Some doctors will undoubtedly drop some of their Medicare patients. This is not the first time their have been cuts and according to the Medicare Modernization act not the last.

All information including the text of the bill can be found here:

http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d110:SN3101:

Here are some of the notable votes.

Yea- Oregon Senators Gordon Smith and Ron Wyden

Nay- Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid from Nevada

Not Voting- Senator Hillary Clinton and Presidential Candidates Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain.

A complete voting list can be found here:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00149

I am truly surprised that none of the major presidential contenders bothered to show up and vote for senior and retiree health. It is a true representation of where the issue of Medicare fits into their agenda. What this tells us is that we must do more to let these candidates know how important this issue is to us. Our Issues must be their issues. Pandering is not enough and we must demand more.

Please call, write, email and show up to public forums and let Senators Barack Obama and John McCain know just how disappointed you are in their performance.