The American Spectator

The Spectacle Blog

Senator Harry Reid's attempt to move $247 billion in health care spending to a separate bill has failed, as he came far short of the 60 votes needed to cut off debate and proceed to vote.

In fact, the cloture vote on the bill to prevent scheduled cuts to Medicare doctors' payments without offsetting spending cuts or new tax revenue did not even get a simple majority, with just 47 Senators voting to cut of debate, and 53 Senators voting against the measure.

While I don't yet have a full roll call, among the Democrats voting against were Sens. Kent Conrad, Byron Dorgan, Russ Feingold, Joe Lieberman, Claire McCaskill, Mark Warner, Jim Webb and Ron Wyden.