The issue focused on senior citizens who pay full tuition at government schools for three years and then drop out of school and become dependent on government aid. The reform bill included an amendment that could see those kids losing their tuition subsidies if they continue to drop out of school.

With no discussion and no votes on the floor of the Senate, the legislation died on the desk of Senator Jerry Moran of Kansas. The debate over the controversial amendment quickly grew heated and deeply personal.

Over the course of about four hours