Positions Payment Accountability Act Passes With All But Specter

The United States Senate passed the Position Payment Accountability Act with all but one vote tonight. The bill passed 31-1.

Several Senators stood to speak on behalf of the bill.   Finance Committee Chair Max Baucus (D-MT) stated the PPA, "allowed us to wrap up a number of small yet very important healthcare issues that might have fallen through the cracks otherwise."  He stated the bill with create appropriate disclosure from doctors of what they receive from pharmaceutical companies and "covers every conceivable small healthcare issue."

Senator John Rockefeller (D-WV) agreed that it would improve Medicare, and improve grant and research programs.  Across the aisle, Senator Charles E. Grassley (R-IA) promoted the bill, as it will increase transparency for doctor bonuses from companies that "may present a conflict of interest."  He continued, saying he was "proud it was passed unanimously out of Committee" and that it would "give Americans the transparency and level of care they deserve."

Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) closed debate: "I would like to very strongly encourage all members of the Senate to support this bill."

Senator Arlen Specter (R-PA) was the lone member of the Congressional delegation to vote "nay."  He had the following to comment:

If you look at the bill, you will see that the PPA is nothing more than an enormous, bipartisan pork bill.  I cannot believe that at a time such as this, when Americans everywhere, in every state and city of this great country are suffering in this economic downturn, the Senate has passed an obscene amount of Pork in PPA.  This is a completely unacceptable action, made even worse by the fact that it was bipartisan.  Bipartisan pork is still pork, and I am disappointed that I was the lone vote opposed.  I am even more disappointed by reports on the Claremont Beat that President Obama has signed PPA into law.  Senator Obama has often warned against pork, and I am disappointed that he seems to have changed his mind.  The American people deserve better.