Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-07-18
Kennedy Set
To Fight for
Medical Bill
Coils on Voters
To Support Plan
Beaten in Senute
BY ]. A. OLEARY
Star Staff Writer

Senate defeat of President
Kennedy'S health insurance
plan has created the top cam
paign issue for this years cleo
ton and made it almost GER
tain the President personally
will carry the fight to the
people.
1t also may hasten the ad-
Journment of Congress.
The dramatic roll call which
Sidetracked the health plan,
% to 48, before crowded GAL
lerieS late yesterday was the
fourth major setback the Presi-
dent has suffered this year at
the hands of a Democratic
controlled Congress. and it
brought Mr.. Kennedy to the
microphoneS in a fighting
mood.
His stern voice and demeanor
scarcely yelling his diSappoint-
ment, Mr. Kennedy spoke be-
fore televiSion and newsreel
cameras shortly after the Sem
ate vote. He told the Nation:
With your support in No
vember, this will pass in 1853"
Tariff Victory Expected
Earlier in the session the
Senate killed his new Depart
ment of Urban Affairs and the
House Scuttled his farm bill.
More recently the Senate FL
nance Committee cut sub
stantial chunks out of his tax
incentive bill.
Indications are that he will
get his tariff-cutting new reci-
procal trade program, which
has passed the House and is
slated for Senate hearings in
a few days.
His budget of more than sos
billion for the current year has
been delayed by the long pro-
cedural Squabble between the
House and Senate Appropria-
tons Committees, but that may
be settled this week.
Once the appropriation bills
and the tariff issue are dis
posed of there will be a strong
desire in both houses to get
home for the campaign unless
the President decides to push
for a general tax cut now,
Sidetracking of the health plan
has revived hope for adjourn
ment by Labor Day.
1t was learned today that
leaders are quietly polling
Democratic Senators on whether
they would prefer to vote for
a SIS billion tax cut now to
stimulate the economy or wait
and consider a larger cut next
year.
Defeated by Coalition
The health plan was put on
the shelf by a coalition of 81
Republicans and 81 Democrats,
of whom II were from the
South. Only liberal Repub-
licans joined 43 Democrats in
favor of going ahead with the
Presidents proposal.
Many House m e m b er S
crowded into the back of the
chamber to watch the exciting
roll call, and no one could be
sure until the last two Sen
ators had answered how it
would turn out.
The key vote was cast by
Senator Randolph, Democrat
of West Virginia, a supporter
of health care under social
security. He said he voted to
table it because it was being
attached as a rider to a bill
under which the Federal Gov
eminent gives Federal aid to
needy aged persons and chill
dren in the States.
Portions of this welfare pro-
gram expired on June 80. with
the result that thousands of
children of unemployed par
entS have lost aid payments
carried in this bill.
Feared Loss of Benefits
Senator Randolph said he
was convinced that if the
health insurance plan had
carried the entire welfare bill
would have died in the House,
and the people would not have
received either the health care
or the benefits for the needy.
When the first call of the
roll was completed yesterday,
Senator Randolph's vote made
the count 81 to 48. Senator
Carl Hayden, Democrat of
Arizona, was the only member
See MEDICARE. Page Al