The Nelson Chronicles
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Senator Ben Nelson’s (NE-D) game changing vote for health care reform finds Nelson and Nebraska in what Joe Biden once called the “white hot heat” of politics.
On CNN Nelson responded to the suggestion that he loves the limelight. Nelson disagreed, “You think it’s fun having both sides on an issue mad at you when you’re trying to do something in good faith, just think, it’s like going home and getting bit by the family dog. Who enjoys that?”
Nelson’s deciding 60th vote for health care also marks the first vote of Nelson’s 2012 re-election campaign.
One possible rival is Governor Dave Heineman (NE-R). And the Nelson-Heineman debate is taking on national significance as the pair spar over the “Husker Amendment.” It’s a compromise that finds the federal government picking up Nebraska’s estimated $45 million in expanded Medicaid costs over the next ten years.
Heineman calls it “bad news” for Nebraska and the nation.
Whose idea was it? Let the finger pointing begin.
Nelson: “I didn’t ask for a special favor here. I didn’t ask for a carve-out. What I said is the governor of Nebraska has contacted me, he said publicly he’s having trouble with the budget. This will add to his budget woes. And I said, look, we have to have that fixed… I didn’t participate in the way it was fixed.”
Heineman: “Nebraskans did not ask for a special deal, only a fair deal… The responsibility for this special deal lies solely on the shoulders of Senator Ben Nelson.”
Other Nebraska voices:
Vic Covalt, Nebraska Democratic Party Chairman: Whatever he (Nelson) did they (Republicans) would have been critical of it.” Covalt calls Nelson’s decision “courageous.”
Senator Mike Johanns (NE-R): “I find it personally heartbreaking … to think that this is what it took to get the final vote necessary to carry this bill to the finish line.”
State Senator Jeremy Nordquist (Omaha-D): “It should be Senator Johanns, not Senator Nelson, drawing fire as the health care debate comes to a close…Senator Johanns has had opportunities to make health care more affordable and more accessible for Nebraskans. Unfortunately he has been derelict in his duty.”
Julie Schmit-Albin, Nebraska Right to Life: “Pro-life Nebraskans have been betrayed by Senator Ben Nelson.”
Nebraska Republicans argue Nelson’s vote will be the ammunition it needs to send Nelson packing in 2012.
Maybe, but three years in politics is an eternity.
In 1994 Nebraska Senator Bob Kerrey ran defending two unpopular votes. Kerrey voted against going to war with Iraq (Gulf War I) and voted for the Clinton tax increase. Kerrey won that re-election.
Editor’s note: to read Nebraska Watchdog’s previous report on Nelson’s health care vote and the future of Offutt Air Force Base click here.
Reported by Joe Jordan, joe@nebraskawatchdog.org
Posted under Blog, State Politics.
Tags: Ben Nelson, Dave Heineman, Jeremy Nordquist, Julie Schmit-Albin, Mike Johanns
6 Comments For This Post So Far
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Exclusive: Kerrey Says Nelson’s Health Care Vote “Took Guts.”
[...] Editor’s note: to read Nebraska Watchdog’s initial report on this topic click here. [...]
9:02 am on December 21st, 2009
I am ashamed of Senator Nelson and I do NOT want to be known as the “Nebraska Kick-back” state. If all the monies that was used for all the kick-backs to various states you could have paid for a lot of health care! All of this cost must be included in the cost of the health bill.
Shame on you Ben!!
9:28 am on December 21st, 2009
People forget, Nelson worked for an insurance company. This bill he voted for gives the insurance cartels they want while killing more options for consumers. We could have as many health insurance options as cell phones if we had a free market system for health insurance.
10:46 am on December 21st, 2009
Nelson’s vote only goes to prove how corrupt the Democrats and this administration have become. Promising other people’s money to get his vote is nothing new, but the fact the thing he was getting wasn’t what he was voting for.
If there isn’t a recall, there will certainly be a huge fallout from this and with any luck, it can be stopped in the next go-round.
The bad part is the people and even the Senators who voted for this travesty have no idea what would be in the final bill. By the time it is enacted, if ever, the cost would be far more than the proponents are willing to admit.
The cast has been estimated to go up for young people 185%, and for the middle aged people 98%. Does this sound like a reasonable, “cheaper” alternative to what we have now? I heard the Democrats and the administration say it would be “cheaper”. How are we to believe anything that comes out of Washington now. It looks like the “Hope and Change” will result in hoping you die before the taxes increase, because all you’ll have left will be change.
8:27 pm on December 21st, 2009
This Healthcare Bill is politics at its finest. So Washington is going to pick up Nebraska’s expanded Medicaid costs over the next ten years. This will never happen. Where will the other 49 states get their money? The courts will take care of this mess.
6:43 pm on December 22nd, 2009
The insurance companies were just handed a massive Christmas gift. Without a public option, health costs will skyrocket. Looks like money wins again and the American people lose.