Senator John McCain (R-AZ) put forth an amendment that would stop Democrats from gutting Medicare through their Senate health care reform legislation. Democrats rejected the amendment a little while ago.

WASHINGTON -(Dow Jones)- The U.S. Senate on Thursday rejected an attempt by Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) to strip Medicare spending cuts from health-care overhaul legislation and effectively scuttle the bill in its current form.

The health-care bill currently contains hundreds of billions of dollars in reductions to Medicare payments to privately run Medicare plans and some health- care providers, as well as through an independent commission that would be empowered to reduce Medicare spending. McCain’s amendment would have sent the bill back to committee with instructions to remove the cuts.

The amendment was rejected by a 58-42 vote.

The official agency in charge of administering Medicare, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, has already confirmed that the Democratic Senate health care legislation will gut the program and jeopardize services for millions of America’s seniors.

McCain attempted to stop that gutting, but Senate Democrats weren’t interested in ensuring continued health services for senior citizens. They’re more concerned with setting up a new, massive entitlement program that will add hundreds of billion of dollars to the deficit, push private insurance out of business, and put bureaucrats between doctors and patients.

It’s a shame that our country’s seniors will suffer in order to fund the Democratic take over of the health care industry. And to think some people are afraid of rationing. Silly people.