WASHINGTON — Sen. Edward Kennedy, D-Mass., made a dramatic return to the Capitol on Wednesday to help the Senate pass legislation that would rescind a sharp cut in Medicare payments to physicians.
Kennedy, who underwent surgery June 2 to remove a life-threatening brain tumor, appeared on the Senate floor at 4:15 p.m., the first time he was there in more than seven weeks. He brought the chamber to a halt and prompted a standing ovation that lasted several minutes.
The legislation was approved by a veto-proof margin, 69 to 30, after falling just one vote shy of passage less than two weeks ago. Kennedy cited that close vote, and his potential to make a difference, as the reason for his appearance.
Kennedy, who is undergoing chemotherapy at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston, was ushered into the chamber by his longtime friends Sens. Christopher Dodd, D-Conn., and John Kerry, D-Mass. Sen. Barack Obama, D-Ill., who Kennedy endorsed in January for the presidential nomination, and Kennedy’s son, Rep. Patrick Kennedy, D-R.I., also walked onto the floor with him. Kennedy’s appearance brought tears to some colleagues’ eyes and pats on the back from both sides of the aisle.
“Aye,” a smiling Kennedy bellowed, flashing two thumbs up, when the matter came up for a vote.
His wife, Vicki Kennedy, and niece Caroline Kennedy were in the VIP section of the chamber’s gallery, along with most of the senator’s staff. Vicki Kennedy had recently e-mailed friends that the senator’s recovery was progressing, but he was not expected to return to the chamber until at least the fall.
“It’s great to be back. I love this place,” Kennedy said as he left the Capitol. He said the Medicare vote was important, and “I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to be able to express my voice and my vote.”
Kennedy cast his vote to prevent a 10.6 percent cut in payments to doctors who treat Medicare patients. On June 26, there were just 59 votes in favor of the legislation, which needed 60 votes to overcome Republican objections to the bill. Kennedy was not present for that vote.
The White House has threatened to veto the measure because of provisions written by Democrats that would instead reduce payments to private insurers who participate in an alternative program, Medicare Advantage.
The cuts in that program, which supporters say benefits elderly patients in rural communities, would allow Democrats to postpone the pay cut to doctors for 18 months but would cost the insurers $14 billion over five years.
On Wednesday, Vice President Cheney attended a weekly luncheon of Senate Republicans just hours before the vote, speaking against the Medicare legislation and assuring senators Bush would veto the bill, according to sources familiar with the meeting.
Despite Cheney’s lobbying, 18 Republicans supported the measure — twice as many as last time. All 49 Democrats and two independents voted for it.
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