30 June 2008

Cornyn Sells-Out Seniors - Loses Major Backer!

Consider this.

In the Senate on Thursday night, supporters of SB-6331, the "Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act of 2008," fell one vote short of the 60 needed to close debate and bring the measure up for a vote.

On Tuesday, the U.S. House had voted 355-59 in favor of the bill, which would have helped more seniors qualify for help paying Medicare premiums by fixing the current personal assets test. In addition, the bill would havestopped scheduled payment cuts to doctors who treat Medicare patients and improved Medicare's preventive benefits, by eliminating several co-payments and bringing mental health parity to Medicare benefits. The final vote was 58-40, with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (NV) changing his vote to "No"to preserve the right to bring up the legislation again later.

Once again, our Texas senators, Cornyn and Hutchison, voted against older Texans and working families in favor of the HMOs and insurance oligarchs. Their “nay” votes were a direct attack on financially hard-strapped older Texans and working families who rely on Medicare.

On Friday, the politically powerful, 43,000-member Texas Medical Association withdrew its support from Senator Cornyn. In its letter notifying Cornyn of its decision to withdraw its support, the association wrote that it was outraged that he decided to vote with the Bush administration in the Medicare vote. The group said the vote would hurt senior citizens, people with disabilities and military families.

Rick Noriega spokesperson, Holly Shulman, said Cornyn is choosing to vote with special interests over Texas families and cited his votes rejecting healthcare for children, cutting veteran’s benefits and Medicare votes that prioritize big insurance companies over families, doctors and seniors.

The complete results of the Senate vote are available. There you will learn that Obama voted "YEA", and McCain? Well, McCain did not show up for the vote. Copy & Paste URL below for the details:

http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=110&session=2&vote=00160

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