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Full Senate votes on measures to its health care reform bill

President Barack Obama met with Senate Democrats as the full chamber voted on amendments to its health care bill last weekend.

“The message from the presentation of the president is that not since social security have we had such an issue in this country,” Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said after the caucus with the President.

During meetings on Saturday and Sunday, the Senate voted 53-41 against a motion for an amendment supported by Sen. Mike Johanns (R-Neb.) that would have prevented cuts to home health care services.

“The current bill cuts billions of dollars from home health care programs, many that serve our most vulnerable Americans,” Johanns said in a press release. “My amendment would have protected the millions of Americans who depend on home health care services, particularly in rural areas, but unfortunately not enough of my colleagues stood up for these protections. It is troubling that the President keeps promising health care for everyone when this bill so clearly violates this promise."

In a unanimous 96-0 vote, members passed an amendment sponsored by John Kerry (D- Massachusetts) to protect home health care benefits.

In addition, the Senate voted 56-42 to reject an amendment by Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.) that would limit the salaries of health care insurance executives and place the savings in the Medicare Trust Fund.

“The choice today was simple — either support America’s seniors by putting revenues right into the Medicare Trust Fund, or allow health insurance companies to retain their generous tax shelter for the multimillion dollar compensation packages of their executives," Lincoln said in a press release. “Health insurance reform promises to bring millions of new customers to insurance companies and dramatically improve their bottom line. I believe it is fair to ask these companies to give up a long-standing taxpayer subsidy that allows them to write off up to $1 million in executive compensation.”

The Senate will resume its consideration of the health care reform bill today. – by Gina Brockenbrough