Congress Overrides Bush Veto of Medicare Bill

The Senate has just voted 70-26 to override George Bush’s veto of the Medicare bill which prevents the automatic 10.6% reduction in Medicare pay to physicians. Bush vetoed the bill earlier today, and the Senate voted after the House voted 383-41 to override. This is only the fourth time that Congress has been successful in overriding a veto by George Bush.

Bush vetoed the bill as it reduces subsidies to private insurance companies to treat Medicare patients, where it costs an average of 13% more to care for patients than under the government program. The Medicare Advantage program was part of Bush’s Medicare plan which also created the prescription drug benefit, which both plans being created in a manner to channel increased money to the insurance and pharmaceutical industry, which contributed heavily to him, as opposed to improving the Medicare program.