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October 10, 2012
Downturn and Legacy of Bush Policies Drive Large Current Deficits
Economic Recovery Measures, Financial Rescues Have Only Temporary Impact
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DUBYA/GOP PRIVATIZATION OF MEDICARE AND PART D IN 2003,
COST THE FEDERAL GENERAL FUND OVER $230+ BILLION THIS YEAR ALONE. WITHOUT A SINGLE PENNY OF FUNDING FROM THEM, ON THE BILL PASSED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT
...The final version of the bill, a compromise worked out by House and Senate negotiators, was adopted in the House by a vote of 220 to 215. But a roll-call vote, which rarely exceeds 20 minutes,
began at 3 a.m. and was held open for nearly three hours, as Republican leaders and Bush administration officials scrambled to quell a conservative rebellion.
As the voting drew on, a few lawmakers fell asleep, but still it was not gaveled to an end. Eventually, just before dawn, after a series of small dramas played out in the milling crowd on the House floor, a few lawmakers switched their votes and put the bill over the top.
Democrats, who overwhelmingly opposed the legislation, asserted that the Republicans had won illegitimately, ''Florida style,'' Nancy Pelosi, the House Democratic leader, put it. Republican leaders dismissed the criticism, elated at finally delivering legislation that was six years in the making.
NO PAYWALL
FLASHBACK NOVEMBER 22, 2003: How Republicans Squeaked Out A Thriller On Medicare Part D
The bill came to a vote at 3 a.m. on November 22. After 45 minutes, the bill was losing, 219-215, with
David Wu (D-OR-1) not voting. Speaker
Dennis Hastert and Majority Leader
Tom DeLay sought to convince some of dissenting Republicans to switch their votes, as they had in June. Istook, who had always been a wavering vote, consented quickly, producing a 218-216 tally.
In a highly unusual move, the House leadership held the vote open for hours as they sought two more votes. Then-Representative Nick Smith (R-MI) claimed he was offered campaign funds for his son, who was running to replace him, in return for a change in his vote from "nay" to "yea." After controversy ensued, Smith clarified no explicit offer of campaign funds was made, but that that he was offered "substantial and aggressive campaign support" which he had assumed included financial support.
About 5:50 a.m., convinced Otter and
Trent Franks (AZ-2) to switch their votes. With passage assured, Wu voted yea as well, and Democrats
Calvin M. Dooley (CA-20),
Jim Marshall (GA-3) and
David Scott (GA-13) changed their votes to the affirmative. But
Brad Miller (D-NC-13), and then, Republican
John Culberson (TX-7), reversed their votes from "yea" to "nay". The bill passed 220-215.
A flashback to a pivotal moment in Medicare history. Explore how Republicans navigated this critical legislation.
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