Republicans by one vote blocked Democratic attempts just before last week’s recess to advance the bill, which would avert a double-digit cut in reimbursement payments for doctors operating under Medicare. 

Reid has promised to bring the bill back up for another procedural vote Wednesday. But Republicans have protested, requesting that Reid allow amendments dealing with how to pay for the bill, the central point of contention.

“No,” Reid said when asked if he would allow germane amendments to be offered if the cloture vote were successful. “The order before the Senate is that we get cloture and a motion to proceed. The bill is passed, [then] goes immediately to the president.

“I’m trying to be as calm as I can be, but the answer is no. They have had weeks and months. Remember, this bill — I repeat, 75 percent of the Republicans in the House voted for it. And it seems a little unusual to me that this bill, they want to change it now, send it back to the House, and every day that it’s not passed, seniors are being affected, doctors are being affected, and veterans are being affected,” Reid added.

“If we don’t get 60 votes, the Republicans are going to have to live with that,” Reid said.

On Monday, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said Reid was taking the wrong approach since President Bush has promised a veto, which would further delay the restoration of doctors' payments.

“We’d like to get a result, and a vetoed bill does not produce a timely result,” McConnell said.

Don Stewart, a McConnell spokesman, said Republicans have repeatedly sought to stave off the doctors’ cut by seeking a month-long extension, but noted that Democrats have blocked these efforts.

“But when it comes to doctors, they’re willing to let the cuts take place rather than work across the aisle to reach an agreement that can pass the Senate and be signed into law,” Stewart said. “That’s a position that’s difficult to understand.”