It wasn't all terrible news today in the Senate. Ted Kennedy made an emotional return to the floor to cast a crucial yes vote helping to pas H.R. 6331 with a veto-proof majority:
Massachusetts Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, battling a brain tumor, walked through a wall of applause and into the Senate on Wednesday and cast a dramatic, decisive vote on long-stalled Medicare legislation.
"Aye," the 76-year-old Kennedy said in a loud voice, smiling broadly and making a thumbs-up gesture as he registered his vote.
...
Kennedy's dramatic return gave Democrats the impetus they needed to free Medicare legislation from gridlock. It had received 59 votes on an earlier test, one short of the 60 needed to advance. Kennedy made 60, and when Republicans saw the outcome was sealed, several of them joined Democrats to pad the margin.
Officials said Kennedy left Boston immediately after his daily cancer treatment for a flight to Washington. He was returning home immediately, in time for Thursday's treatment.
The video is at Think Progress. (via dday) As I've written, this bill leaves a ton to be desired but it does push back, albeit marginally, on the Medicare Advantage boondoggle and after the FISA nightmare earlier, I'll take what I can get to ward off despair for another day.
Thanks. I needed that.
Posted by: vwclown | July 09, 2008 at 07:40 PM
Me too, vw! The story is that Reid called Kennedy to ask him to get down to D.C. for the vote. This is what it takes now to get legislation passed with the new 60-vote majority rule in place. And do you remember the whine fest the GOP never stopped throwing when the Dems were filibustering a few of BushCo's judicial nominees? It's truly unbelievable.
Posted by: eRobin | July 10, 2008 at 08:38 AM