Congress overrides Bush Medicare veto
The House and Senate reject the presidential veto of a bill to halt doctors' Medicare payment cuts.
 |
| Congress rejected a presidential veto that would cut Medicare payments to doctors. |
WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Both houses of Congress voted Tuesday to halt planned cuts in Medicare payments to doctors, overriding a veto by President Bush for the third time of his presidency.
The 70-26 vote in the Senate was a much narrower margin than in the House of Representatives, where the vote was 383-41. Each chamber needs a two-thirds majority to pass a law over the president's objections.
The new law stops a 10.6% cut in Medicare payments to doctors, part of a scheduled cost-saving formula that went into effect July 1. The money for the doctors will be taken from the Medicare Advantage program, which subsidizes private insurers to cover seniors who would otherwise be treated through conventional Medicare.
Congress previously had passed only two bills over Bush's objections - a $23 billion water-project legislation that the president vetoed in 2007, and a $300 billion farm bill he spiked in May. 
-
These 5 cities have the fastest-growing foreclosure rates. And they're not the usual suspects. More -
Now you can get the $8,000 credit through June 2010 -- or $6,500 if you're not a first-time buyer. More -
Home prices are forecast to plummet, but these 7 cities are predicted to post gains. More -
Home prices have grown in the beer-guzzling heartland and fell in the wine-sipping coastal states. More -
Investors think Detroit's foreclosed houses are a deal. Would you buy this one for $6,900? More -
Economic growth, affordable wages -- these spots have what entrepreneurs need to thrive. More
