He said the program was too important to the nation's elderly and in too much financial trouble to be the subject of partisan debate.

The vote came after nearly two hours of tense and partisan debate, participants said.

The legislation did pass, but the furious partisan debate over it continues to this day.

But the meeting quickly devolved into six hours of mostly partisan debate.

He passed a tax bill that was the result of an extremely acrimonious and partisan debate.

But Democrats, in keeping with the partisan debate that has split the panel, said the notes turned up little new.

This makes it difficult and even dangerous to engage in partisan debate with the President.

The 224-to-196 vote followed a largely partisan debate over what kind of change the voters sought in November.

Whether small businesses will be inhibited from creating jobs by the President's budget plan has become a partisan debate.

"This is not the time for a partisan debate on vouchers."