Truemors
is reporting from
Member
NP Rank:
NP Rank:
Sen. Ben Nelson Supports Health Care Bill After Nebraska Deal
Share:
by Yuliya Talmazan | December 22, 2009 at 09:49 am
6499 views | 19 Recommendations | 12 comments
Photos
Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson has finally ensured his support for the health care bill, but not gratuitously. Instead, Nelson's support came in exchange for a Medicaid deal for the state of Nebraska. But, not everyone in Nebraska is happy about the special deal.
Nelson was the last Democratic holdout, but changed his mind over the weekend. On Sen. Ben Nelson's website, a statement appeared dating to December 19 saying, "Nelson to support health care bill: Delay would hurt Nebraska families, workers and employers." The statement said that the health care reform bill will reduce the cost, expand access, and improve health care for all Nebraskans.
“Change is never easy...but change is what is needed in America today. I will vote for health care reform because it will deliver relief from rising health care costs to Nebraska families, workers, rural communities and employers,” Senator Nelson said. “
What did Nelson ask in return? The federal government agreed to cover 100% of Nebraska's health care bill for an indefinite amount of time. The deal was called an act of "bribery" by the Republicans, who said there should be no special deals for any parties involved in the bill.
Not everyone in Nebraska is happy over the deal that Nelson secured for his state. There are allegations some Nebraskans want a lawsuit launched against their home state.
“The deal the senator made for the State of Nebraska is against the law and against the Constitution,” says Rief-Heskett. “Why should the state of Nebraska not have to pay for the unfunded mandate of Medicaid and all the other states have to pay for Nebraska’s portion?”
But, Nebraska was not the only state that was given special treatment in the health care bill: Montana, North Dakota and South Dakota also had special deals carved out for them in the health care bill.
What is your take? Do you think any states should enjoy special healthcare deals for the "greater good" of having one uniform health care bill?
Advertisement
NowPublic on Facebook
What is NowPublic?
NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.
Crowd Power
Yuliya Talmazan
Burnaby, Canada
Related Stories
Recommendations (19)
snuffysmith
Washington D.C., D.C., United States
Hugh Askew
Omaha, Nebraska, United States
Karl Gotthardt - albertacowpoke
Redwater, Alberta, CanadaAnonymous users (3)
Most RecentMost Recommended Comments (12)
at 10:11 on December 22nd, 2009
Uniform Health Care is already a misdenomer when special deals are incorporated for different states.
Since no one really knows the contents of the full bill, how do we know it's for the common good?
Having watched this health care reform debacle for a while now, I find the process in the U.S. Congress too cumbersome to get anything done.
I am not being critical of the Democrats here, this is the way bills, seemingly, get brokered in the U.S. It makes it difficult to pass anything pure as all self-interest groups and lobbyists get involved.
at 23:24 on December 22nd, 2009
I am a resident of the state of California. I resent the sleazy deal made by Sen. Nelson on behalf of Nebraska. Now I, and the rest of California (not to mention the other 48 states!) will have to foot the cost of his exemption for Medicaid. I didn't vote for Nelson - he doesn't represent ME - how can he get away with boosting MY taxes.
at 10:52 on December 22nd, 2009
Say good-bye, Ben.
Even the local paper has pulled the plug on you.
at 14:02 on December 22nd, 2009
Ben Nelson has always been and still is a whore for the insurance industry from whence he came. He sold us out for about $300 per Nebraskan. That's what he thinks we are worth. And that is what he thinks freedom is worth. I hope he just stays in DC after he is ousted. We don't want him here in Nebraska. Call your state senator and demand that they introduce legislation allowing for recall elections of US Senators.
at 14:11 on December 22nd, 2009
How is what Obama, Pelosi and Reid different from what Rod Blogojavich (Chicago politician who tried to sell Obama's Senate seat) did? They bought a vote at the taxpayer's expense to further their personal agenda for their personal political legacy. They are arrogant and dishonest all in the name of getting Obama and Comapany on the Historical Records. They are out to make a name for themselves and stick us with the bill. That's all it is about. It is shameful.
at 16:53 on December 22nd, 2009
Bribery...simple bribery, all done to feed the ego of our little Socialist putz in the White House.
at 17:47 on December 22nd, 2009
In my 75 yrs I have never seen a senate act so corruptful. They have no shame... Bribing for votes with our money to get support for a health bill we don't want.... how sleezy is that.. Ben Nelson sold his pro life people out.. The Nebr gov is on the record as against his action ..but Nelson is more loyal to Reid & Obama than his voters which are against the senate bill.. This bunch of low lifes in the senate should be recalled... They don't have the people at heart... only their own reelections.. The Democrats have the power & all they do is abuse it..They do not know how to govern ethically from Obama on down.
at 20:09 on December 22nd, 2009
When Rod Blogojavich got caught he showed the same amount of shame as Ben Nelson is now showing...only even the machine in Illinois politics had trouble stomaching it. I'd hope that Nebraska might consider following the machine politics of Chicago and show Ben the door.
at 21:39 on December 22nd, 2009
This is bullsh1t. Exempting one state from future Medicaid costs at the expense of taxpayers from the remaining 49? What kind of garbage is that? It's ILLEGAL garbage, that's what it is... and a previous writer is correct - it's all to feed that bloated ego of a socialist, tree-hugging, piss-ant of a president. This BS had better stop soon, or there will be HELL to pay. I am confident the American people will not stand for this.
at 21:43 on December 22nd, 2009
I'd love to represent any state other than Nebraska bringing the claim that this Medicaid cost exception for Nebraska violates the Equal Protection Clause of the 14th Amendment.
at 03:15 on December 23rd, 2009
The majority of thinking Americans don't want this legislation to pass, giving Government more control over our lives while the indigent let the working stiffs feed the Big Brother monster. Senator Nelson's sell-out was disgraceful. You can tell him what you think by clicking here: bennelson.senate.gov/contact-me.cfm. And watch the bills add up (and your taxes) when millions of illegal immigrants are given amnesty and access to Government-subsidized health care.
at 08:37 on December 23rd, 2009
I support Senator Nelson for blazing the trail to end unfunded mandates. Now other states can follow Nebraska's lead! How about that....Nebraska is on the cutting edge of transforming the health care system for the people of Nebraska and all Americans. Good Job Ben, you are a courageous man.