Yes, Mr. President, the Democratically controlled Senate and it’s leader, Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) are wrong to tie these two issues together.  It is deplorable political posturing, no matter the heroics of Senator Kennedy of Massachusetts. However, you too are not playing in the real world.  The insurers you seek to protect will NOT lose any money at all with this bill, only the possible growth of new entrants into Medicare Advantage plans, and that is over several years.  Physicians stand to lose a great deal immediately. Medicare already only pays them about 30 cents on a dollar billed.  Do you wish for them to leave the practice of medicine, stop accepting new Medicare patients or stop seeing Medicare patients altogether? Mr. President, sign the bill.  Then why not address the issue of multiple targeting in bills in Congress, a favorite tactic of BOTH parties . . . jomaxx

President Bush intends to block a bill protecting doctors from a cut in their Medicare pay, even though Congress seemingly has enough votes to override his veto, a White House spokesman indicated on Thursday. 

To pay for rescinding the 10.6 rate cut, lawmakers would reduce spending on private health insurers serving about 9 million elderly and disabled patients through Medicare Advantage.  . . . see link to article

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/07/10/national/printable4249448.shtml