The U.S. congress has overridden President George W. Bush's veto of a Medicare bill that blocks pay cuts to doctors who treat seniors, Fox News reported Wednesday.
Despite little chance of prevailing, Bush issued the veto Tuesday morning, declaring the bill "objectionable" because it would take funds from private health insurers to keep paying doctors and would be "fiscally irresponsible."
But within hours, the House voted 383 to 41 to overrule him. The Senate soon followed with a 70-26 vote that was hailed by physicians and seniors.
The bill, which affects 44 million Medicare beneficiaries and more than 9 million military personnel, now becomes law.
The override, the fourth Congress has delivered to Bush in the last year, underscored the president's weakened status as his second term nears its close.
Bush has vetoed nine bills in two years after issuing no vetoes in his first term.
Source:Xinhua
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