An Enormous Victory

by   |  July 18, 2008

Last week, those of us who believe in health care for all celebrated an important – and all too rare – victory with the passing of a Medicare bill that puts seniors and the disabled ahead of profits and privatization. “To a rousing ovation from his colleagues, Senator Ted Kennedy arrived back in the Capitol to vote on the Medicare bill, which passed by a veto-proof 69 - 30 margin. Kennedy’s vote could have been critical. Senate Republicans had blocked movement on this legislation by just one vote a couple weeks ago. (Read more from AMERICAblog.)

“Ostensibly, Wednesday’s vote was about restoring cuts in Medicare payments to doctors. What it was really about, however, was the fight against creeping privatization,” wrote Paul Krugman.

Said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid of President Bush and his support of Medicare Advantage:

“If you had to list car salesmen, members of Congress and insurance companies, insurance companies would be at the bottom of the list. I’m personally comfortable with the president casting his lot with insurance companies and HMOs. We’re comfortable casting our lot with the American people.” (from Firedoglake)

The President vetoed the bill, but Congress moved quickly to override his veto. As the New York Times editorialized:

“President Bush’s veto was easily overridden as Republicans in droves abandoned his misguided effort to help the insurance industry hold on to its large subsidies.”

And now 44 million beneficiaries can count on a more solid Medicare program.