The Senate Finance Committee rejected the amendment offered by Bill Nelson to double the amount that the drug industry would have to contribute to health reform. Had it passed, the amendment would have abrogated the deal the White House cut with the pharmaceutical companies to gain their support for the White House’s reform efforts. Ten Republicans joined three Democrats to keep the deal in effect, while ten Democrats voted to violate the deal, so President Obama’s deal remains intact, but only because the Republicans backed him on the issue.