Congress overrides Bush on Medicare bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Congress voted on Tuesday to override President George W. Bush's veto of a bill to keep government payments from being slashed for doctors who treat the elderly under the popular Medicare health program.

In what is likely the last big showdown between Bush and congressional Democrats over Medicare, the Senate overturned the president's veto by a vote of 70-26.

The bill, a temporary measure designed to stop the pay cut for doctors and give Congress and the next president time to review broader issues surrounding Medicare, now becomes law.

After Bush's veto earlier on Tuesday, the House of Representatives also had voted to enact the legislation over the president's objections.

(Reporting by Richard Cowan and Donna Smith; Editing by David Alexander and John O'Callaghan)