Senate Rejects Measures on Medicare, Kids’ Insurance
The Senate on Thursday voted 74-23 to reject an amendment to the budget resolution sponsored by Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) that would have reduced reimbursements to Medicare providers by $34 billion over five years, about half the amount proposed in February by President Bush (Taylor, AP/Houston Chronicle, 3/22).
In addition, the Senate voted 59-38 to reject an amendment that would have established a deficit-neutral reserve fund for SCHIP and limited coverage under the program to children (Hess, CongressDaily, 3/22).
The Senate also voted 52-44 to reject an amendment sponsored by Sen. John Ensign (R-Nev.) that would have increased prescription drug benefit premiums for individuals with annual incomes of more than $80,000 and couples with annual incomes of more than $160,000 (Hess/Hagstrom, CongressDaily, 3/23).