Snowe-Wyden amendment roll call beginning now in the Senate.

[flpoljunkie]

This is a biggie. Let's see how many Republicans vote keep pharmaceutical profits safe and refuse to let Medicare negotiate to buy drugs in bulk, like the VA does.

[flpoljunkie]

1. This could win! R's voting aye so far are Chafee, Collins, Graham, McCain

Brownback.

Nelson of Florida just voted NO! He really ought to just run as a Republican since he seems to vote with on crucial issues that Democrats ought to be voting for.

Nelson's vote could mean there will be a 50-50 tie, and thus the amendment would fail!

[flpoljunkie]

3. Baucus just voted with the Dubya Rethugs! WTF!

[cestpaspossible]

10. I wish there were some way to demand an explanation.

[flpoljunkie]

12. Perhaps I misheard or he changed his vote. Nelson, D-NE betrayed us!

[hopein08]

13. Ben Nelson & Max Baucus both betrayed us! n/t

[ewagner]

2. Here's hoping! n/t

[flpoljunkie]

4. It sounds suspiciously like it will fail. The fix is in!

[flpoljunkie]

6. It lost 49-50! The pharmaceutical profits remain intact and assured!

And this after the CBO just said the price of providing prescription drugs bills had risen from $450 billion to over $750 billion and perhaps as much as a trillion in the next decade.

Corporations and their bought and paid for Senators rule!

[napi21]

5. Vote ayes 49 nays 50. Ammendment defeated!

[napi21]

7. Where can I find exactly how each Senator voted?

I feel sure since both my Senators are Pubs, they voted nay, but I want to be absolutely sure before I contact them!

[cestpaspossible]

9. Senate Roll Call votes

you can find them on this page:
http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/vote_menu_109_1.htm

The column entitled 'Vote' is where the link to the actual roll call is ocated.

Here is the link for the vote: http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00060


I gotta say, I don't quite understand this amendment:

To ensure that any savings associated with legislation that provides the Secretary of Health and Human Services with the authority to participate in the negotiation of contracts with manufacturers of covered part D drugs to achieve the best possible prices for such drugs under part D of title XVIII of the Social Security Act, that requires the Secretary to negotiate contracts with manufacturers of such drugs for each fallback prescription drug plan, and that requires the Secretary to participate in the negotiation for a contract for any such drug upon the request of a prescription drug plan or an MA-PD plan, is reserved for reducing expenditures under such part.

What?

[napi21]

14. Thank you so much for the link! I just contacted BOTH of my Sens.

After explaining my objections to the way they voted, I added that they better enjoy their first term in the US Senate, because it's going to be their ONLY ONE!

[flpoljunkie]

8. This, by the way, was seen as the only chance to change the Rx drug bill--

an egregiously giveaway to the pharmaceutical companies that will be financed by us--the taxpayers!

Amerikuns, wake up!

[mrgorth]

11. You guys don't get it

the thugs don't fuck up.