Democrat trick to reduce cost of health care regulations defeated in Senate

http://johnrlott.blogspot.com/2009/10/democrat-trick-to-reduce-cost-of-health.html

Democrats lost a big test vote on health care legislation on Wednesday
as the Senate blocked action on a bill to increase Medicare payments
to doctors at a cost of $247 billion over 10 years. . . .

By addressing doctors' fees in a separate bill, Senate Democrats could
hold down the cost of the broader health legislation, keeping it
within the limits set by President Obama. House Democrats are
considering a similar tactic. Republicans said it was a transparent
ploy to hide the cost of a health care overhaul.

Democrats had hoped that by passing the Medicare bill they could
appease doctors and secure their support for the broader legislation.
. . .