WASHINGTON — In a floor session electrified by the appearance of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, the critically ill Massachusetts Democrat, the Senate voted Wednesday to stave off a cut in Medicare fees to doctors who treat seniors, military personnel and their families and others.
Kennedy, a longtime champion of the federal Medicare program who underwent surgery for brain cancer last month, appeared halfway through the vote, to tears and thunderous applause from fellow senators and spectators.
Moving carefully but steadily, his broad face slightly puffy, Kennedy held up both thumbs, flashed a smile and roared his vote: "Aye."
Democrats credited Kennedy's appearance with their 69-30 victory in what had been a closely contested and bitterly partisan dispute. A Senate vote on an identical measure failed by one vote in June.
"We got this victory because of Ted," said Sen. Max Baucus (D-Mont.), chairman of the Senate Finance Committee. "He made this happen."
The vote, coming on what Democrats had cast as a key election year test, sets the stage for a showdown with President Bush, who has promised to veto the bill. But Senate leaders, buoyed by their victory, sounded confident. The bill has already passed the House by a veto-proof 355-59 vote.
"Let the president veto it," said Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.). "We got overwhelming support in the House and more than enough votes to override a veto today."
In an added element of drama, the only senator to miss the vote was Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.), his party's presumed presidential nominee, who was campaigning in Ohio. McCain would have faced the choice of voting against the interests of seniors and active and retired military personnel, whose healthcare system is linked to Medicare, or voting against party elders at a time when he needs their support.
McCain also was absent for the June vote, in which the measure ultimately failed 58 to 40. Between the votes, nine Republicans switched sides, with 18 Republicans voting in favor overall. McCain said in a statement later Wednesday that he would have opposed the measure. Sen. Barack Obama, the Illinois Democrat and presidential candidate who accompanied Kennedy onto the Senate floor, supported the bill.
The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008 would halt a 10.6% cut in payments to physicians, scheduled to take effect July 15, and instead institute a 1.1% payment increase in 2009. The bill would also boost preventive and mental health benefits.
