to attempt to be fair, I used wikipedia as an info source to respond to your statement:
Geo, you might want to consider reading news sources that are more varied, because the debate happened, compromises WERE reached, and the final bill contained over 100 amendments from the Republicans - making it *bipartisan*.
here's what WIKI says: (I made the "bold")
In the Senate, the bill faced numerous amendments made by the Republicans, all of which failed. However, the Republicans had two provisions dealing with Pell Grants stricken from the bill due to violations of budget reconciliation rules, forcing the bill to return to the House.[12] The two provisions were: The fourth paragraph of Sec. 2101(a)(2)(C) and Sec. 2101(a)(2)(D).[13][14]. On March 25, the bill passed the Senate by a 56–43 vote, with all Republicans and 3 Democrats voting against it[15]. The only Democratic Senators to vote against were: Lincoln (D-AR), Nelson (D-NE) & Pryor (D-AR). Later in the same day the House passed the modified bill by a 220–207 vote, sending it to President Obama for a signature.[16]