Ben Nelson Ready to Let Health Debate Begin
EmailSenator Ben Nelson has sent out his strongest signal yet that he won’t join Republicans to
block floor consideration of Harry Reid’s health care bill. With Reid set to present the legislation
to his Caucus this afternoon at five, Democratic sources tell me that Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas
is the last holdout Reid has to convince.
My colleague Z. Byron Wolf has more:
Sen. Ben Nelson has been one of the biggest question marks for Democrats on health reform and, while still undecided, he seemed inclined today to bring a Democratic bill to the floor later this week.
The first test of Sen. Harry Reid’s health reform bill – to be released later tonight – will be a cloture vote Saturday by Senators on whether even to start debating the bill. With Republicans seemingly united against the bill, Reid will need all 60 Democrats to vote against the filibuster.
Nelson, who met earlier today with other moderates and Reid just off the Senate floor - wants to see Reid’s full bill and have several days to digest it before he decides how he’ll vote on Saturday.
But Nelson also includes in his statement below a lesson on procedural votes. His vote Saturday won’t be a vote for or against Reid’s bill, but rather a vote on whether to debate it.
“It is a motion to start debate on a bill and to try to improve it,” says Nelson in a paper statement. “If you don’t like the bill, then why would you block your own opportunity to amend it? Why would you stop senators from doing the job they’re elected to do—debate, consider amendments, and take action on an issue affecting every American?” Listen to the full audio of Nelson’s statement here.
This would appear to be an evolution in Nelson’s thinking.
Last week Nelson told Jon Karl in ABC’s Subway Series that “"Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won't vote to move it.”
Needless to say – and Nelson got a personal read-thru of what will be in Reid’s bill before releasing this statement – Nelson’s latest thinking on cloture is good news for Reid.
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BLUE DOGS DONT DO IT. YOU WONT MAKE IT IN 2010
Posted by: natale from mass. | November 18, 2009, 5:20 pm 5:20 pm
After 40 yrs. of “talking” about healthcare reform, this is the best they can come up with? And, they’re not even solving the problems that are causing costs to rise! 1)create more competition for health insurance companies
2) torte reform.
Back to the drawing board. Throw out the politics and start solving problems
or we’re throwing democrats out!
Posted by: paul | November 18, 2009, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm
Vote them out! Any Senator who allows this bill to be rammed down our throats by Reconciliation must be removed from office because they know what voting for cloture means. Just like most of the Blue Dogs the conservative Democrats are only fiscally responsible on small matters.
And my question is does the $850 Billion price tag include the $250 Billion doctor fix or not? Because if it doesn’t this is just one of those gimmick bills like the House…you know the one with 6 years of benefits paid for by 10 years of TAXES and MEDICARE CUTS.
Posted by: WorriedAmerican | November 18, 2009, 6:08 pm 6:08 pm
Mr Nelson needs to vote the way his Dem. Nebraskans want him to vote. He needs to help get a good Health Care Reform Bill done and at work for ALL Americans. THIS YEAR. I live in Nebraska and I promise you I will never vote for him again if something isn’t settled this year on this issue. Nebraska has many out of work, and rural people who need help with medical and drug coverage. We are a small state with big trouble, out children have big mental and health issues and we have to find a way to help them now. Older Nebraskans need to know they aren’t going to loose their homes if they need high prised drug therapy. Today you can go bankrupt if you get an illness that requires life saving drugs to keep you going THIS IS VERY WRONG.
Posted by: Bonnie Kimberly | November 18, 2009, 6:11 pm 6:11 pm
By the way the hand that writes the history on this effort will not have much to say about the end result, but that is because it will be good and it has to happen. What will be written is the effect this whole mess has had on this country and how some on the far right wanted to make the entire country suffer because they did not want our President to win. this is a really poor way to run a country.
Posted by: Bonnie Kimberly | November 18, 2009, 6:15 pm 6:15 pm
Republicans can suck it. One Public option coming up. Thanks!
Posted by: jim | November 18, 2009, 6:16 pm 6:16 pm
You know Bonnie, this legislation does nothing to change the fact that the cost of medical care is outrageous. Do you not think that is a better place to begin the reform of health care? Why are we only trying to reform health insurance? Do you not see the difference between the two? Do you really think this will solve problems, rather than create them? I weep for the future.
Posted by: War919 | November 18, 2009, 6:28 pm 6:28 pm
NO! NO! NO! to any type of government health care…don’t you hear us?
A new day is coming for Democracts…election time…and then we will see CHANGE!
Posted by: janis mason | November 18, 2009, 9:19 pm 9:19 pm
An entitlement program that adds some 30 million for coverage and saves money! When did an entitlement program ever save money?
I think the same clever math that considers less jobs lost this month than last month great news is being generously applied here.
First it is my understanding that this bill would have money paid in for three years before it begins to pay out in year 2013. That may be part of the clever math!
None of the government’s entitlement programs have ever come in on budget, so what is the magic here? Has the government gotten smarter, or have we become more gullible?
Comparative-effectiveness-research panels were (strange as it seems) funded under the stimulus bill. On the surface jobs (consuming GDP instead of adding to GDP), rationing panels not funded under Obamacare and taking no heat as they were added under the cloak of darkness!
No are we expected to trust an underhanded kowtowing, underhanded, minion congress that takes such action?
I’ll drink (tea) to that, and send the tea bag to congress! Bring them home in 2010!
Posted by: Ed Taylor | November 18, 2009, 11:16 pm 11:16 pm
America Wake Up!!! We need actions now..
I rather spend our money in America where a lot of people need health insurance. Do you want your money to spend it in Iraq or Afghanistan? Billion of dollars every year was spend in these two wars. What benefits to we get? NOTHING!!!so wake up America! It’s time to tell the congress to stop this wars and spend our money wisely and spend to our people who need health insurance, medications, educations, etc.
Posted by: Jaime Santos | November 19, 2009, 5:05 am 5:05 am
The Democrats entitlements will be paid for by the hard working tax payer,enough already.Vote the bums out in 2010.
Posted by: Johnny L | November 19, 2009, 8:23 am 8:23 am
Take a look at Bonnies statement.. this tells me the mind set of Obama’s supporters….wait until she starts paying taxes!
Republician and Democrats are to blame for this mess, and we allowed it! I am now an Independant Constutionalist!…God help this screwed up country! Everyone wants a handout!
Posted by: james keeling | November 19, 2009, 7:45 pm 7:45 pm
Senator Nelson, it’s not so bad. You can always apply for unemployment, and hope that the Republican controlled Congress will extend your tax payer provided freebies as you seek a job with the rest of us. I have not looked more forward to the next elections in my life and you can bet I will be at the polls. I’ll bet a lot of others will to, Ben Nelson. And you can share that with Senator Lincoln and the bribed Senator from Louisianna. Lot’s of room for you all on the soup line.
Posted by: DBC | November 21, 2009, 7:33 am 7:33 am