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CNN Live Sunday
Senate Democrats Call for Filibuster Over Medicare Measure
Aired November 23, 2003 - 10:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In the U.S. Senate, some Democrats are threatening a talk-a-thon of the Medicare overhaul proposal. Supporters of the measure are pushing for a vote as early as tomorrow. President Bush lobbied hard to get that plan passed in the House. So you can bet the White House is watching developments in the Senate.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is watching things at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Marty, White House officials are watching very closely, very carefully what happens. So President Bush and the first lady back from their London trip. They were attending church service this morning. But President Bush really refocusing his efforts now on his domestic priorities. And this really is one of the most important political challenges of his presidency.
As you know, Medicare reform is the centerpiece of his domestic policy. And that could be determined -- likely be determined within the next 48 to 72 hours.
Now, it's just yesterday that an extraordinary chain of events occurred. The House passed its own version of the legislation, 220 to 215. That after Republicans kept the vote open for a record-breaking nearly three hours. And then House Republicans, the leadership, twisting the arms of a few conservative members to actually get them to change their votes.
Now, President Bush is throwing his own political weight into the battle. He made at least 12 calls to lawmakers on the issue. Democrats Senator Kennedy, as well as John Kerry, now calling for a filibuster. And there's going be quite a bit of heated debate that we imagine will take place this afternoon. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, however, saying that he is determined he will bring this to a vote as early as tomorrow.
Now, President Bush is pushing forward, calling for the Senate to pass this bill, while Democrats are saying that this whole process is a sham.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This week Congress made significant progress toward improving the lives of America's senior citizens. The House of Representatives passed legislation that would bring prescription drug coverage to Medicare and lead to health care choices for our seniors. This legislation, if also passed by the Senate, would represent the greatest improvement in senior health care since Medicare was enacted in 1965.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The threats in this bill, the poison pills in the prescription drug benefit plan, as the Republicans have put it together, are threatening enough to millions of seniors whose coverage will be cut, and are threatening enough to Medicare as we know it, one of the best things the federal government has done.
And I have a moral responsibility to do anything I can to stop it from being adopted. So I will join the filibuster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Despite the filibuster, the threats of filibuster, it is expected that Medicare reform is going to pass. But President Bush is not taking anything for granted. On Tuesday, he's gong to be traveling to Las Vegas and Phoenix, where he's going to be making speeches about the importance of passing that legislation.
Also, to let you know, Marty, that this is particularly important to the administration. His energy bill stalled on Thursday. Not likely to see that pass this year. So this is particularly important for him to push this through -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: It's easy to see why. Important for Democrats as well. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Measure>
Aired November 23, 2003 - 10:10 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
MARTIN SAVIDGE, CNN ANCHOR: In the U.S. Senate, some Democrats are threatening a talk-a-thon of the Medicare overhaul proposal. Supporters of the measure are pushing for a vote as early as tomorrow. President Bush lobbied hard to get that plan passed in the House. So you can bet the White House is watching developments in the Senate.
CNN's Suzanne Malveaux is watching things at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue -- Suzanne.
SUZANNE MALVEAUX, CNN WHITE HOUSE CORRESPONDENT: Well, Marty, White House officials are watching very closely, very carefully what happens. So President Bush and the first lady back from their London trip. They were attending church service this morning. But President Bush really refocusing his efforts now on his domestic priorities. And this really is one of the most important political challenges of his presidency.
As you know, Medicare reform is the centerpiece of his domestic policy. And that could be determined -- likely be determined within the next 48 to 72 hours.
Now, it's just yesterday that an extraordinary chain of events occurred. The House passed its own version of the legislation, 220 to 215. That after Republicans kept the vote open for a record-breaking nearly three hours. And then House Republicans, the leadership, twisting the arms of a few conservative members to actually get them to change their votes.
Now, President Bush is throwing his own political weight into the battle. He made at least 12 calls to lawmakers on the issue. Democrats Senator Kennedy, as well as John Kerry, now calling for a filibuster. And there's going be quite a bit of heated debate that we imagine will take place this afternoon. Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, however, saying that he is determined he will bring this to a vote as early as tomorrow.
Now, President Bush is pushing forward, calling for the Senate to pass this bill, while Democrats are saying that this whole process is a sham.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
GEORGE W. BUSH, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: This week Congress made significant progress toward improving the lives of America's senior citizens. The House of Representatives passed legislation that would bring prescription drug coverage to Medicare and lead to health care choices for our seniors. This legislation, if also passed by the Senate, would represent the greatest improvement in senior health care since Medicare was enacted in 1965.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
SEN. JOSEPH LIEBERMAN (D-CT), PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE: The threats in this bill, the poison pills in the prescription drug benefit plan, as the Republicans have put it together, are threatening enough to millions of seniors whose coverage will be cut, and are threatening enough to Medicare as we know it, one of the best things the federal government has done.
And I have a moral responsibility to do anything I can to stop it from being adopted. So I will join the filibuster.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
MALVEAUX: Despite the filibuster, the threats of filibuster, it is expected that Medicare reform is going to pass. But President Bush is not taking anything for granted. On Tuesday, he's gong to be traveling to Las Vegas and Phoenix, where he's going to be making speeches about the importance of passing that legislation.
Also, to let you know, Marty, that this is particularly important to the administration. His energy bill stalled on Thursday. Not likely to see that pass this year. So this is particularly important for him to push this through -- Marty.
SAVIDGE: It's easy to see why. Important for Democrats as well. Suzanne Malveaux at the White House, thank you very much.
TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com
Measure>
