Senate Republicans hoping to start their summer recess with several legislative successes got one Thursday with the first substantial overhaul of the nation's ailing pension system in decades. The long-sought pension overhaul garnered strong bipartisan support, as 40 Democrats and one independent joined the Republican majority as the Senate voted 93 to 5 to pass a bill that many say will help stabilize pensions for 44 million American workers. The House overwhelmingly passed the measure last week. It now goes to President Bush, who is expected to sign it.
See "Senate Passes Overhaul of Pension System", Noam N. Levey and Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times, August 3, 2006