By GottaLaff

I am late to this due to my schedule today, but if you missed it:

Breaking a three-day stalemate, the Senate approved an amendment to its health care legislation that would require insurance companies to offer free mammograms and other preventive services to women.

The vote was 61 to 39, with three Republicans joining 56 Democrats and the two independents in favor.

The Republican senators voting in favor were the two women from Maine, Olympia J. Snowe and Susan Collins, and David Vitter of Louisiana. Among Democratic senators, Russ Feingold of Wisconsin and Ben Nelson of Nebraska opposed the proposal.

The Democrats’ legislation had already contained requirements that insurers cover a wide range of preventive care. The amendment, put forward by Senator Barbara Mikulski, Democrat of Maryland, goes further, mandating coverage for a broader package of services for women.

Mikulski, Murkowski, Murkowski, Mikulski, let’s call the whole thing health care:

Ms. Mikulski’s proposal was countered by a Republican amendment put forward by Senator Lisa Murkowski, Republican of Alaska.

Ms. Murkowski’s amendment was defeated on Thursday by a vote of 59 to 41, with Mr. Nelson joining all 40 Republicans in favor of it and all other Democrats united in opposition.