Congress rejects Bush Medicare, Medicaid cuts

Congress has rejected President Bush’s proposals to scale backspending on Medicare and Medicare, an indication that New Jerseyhospitals may not need to reduce services or close to stay in business.  The proposals were unpopularwith congressional Democrats and Republicans, who lobbied against theproposals Bush outlined in his fiscal 2009 spending wish list. ButCongress controls the federal purse strings.  Early thismorning, the Senate voted 51-44 largely along party lines to adopt aspending blueprint for next year. Both New Jersey senators, who areDemocrats, voted for it.  The House voted 212-207 on Thursday toadopt its version of the blueprint. Mirroring the broader partisansplit, all seven New Jersey Democratic congressmen voted yes while allsix GOP members voted no.

Source/more:  Courier-Post Online, http://www.courierpostonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080314/NEWS01/80314032/1006/news01