| This vote was on an amendment offered by Sen. Jay Rockefeller (D-W.V.) to tax reduction legislation. The amendment would have delayed the reduction of the top income tax rate for individuals until a Medicare prescription drug benefit is enacted. The amendment failed and the tax cut was enacted, at a cost of $1.35 trillion over 11 years (likely to be $1.8 trillion when provisions are fully implemented in later years). This left the nation without the resources it needs to meet urgent domestic priorities, such as a prescription drug benefit in Medicare. Failed 48 Yea to 51 Nay. |