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Nelson: Earlier Benefits May Complicate Health Care Negotiations
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).
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As I noted yesterday, Democrats are starting to talk up the idea that moving the implementation of key benefits forward might be one way to ease a final health care bill through the House of Representatives. The caveat, of course, is that the earlier the benefits kick in, the more the bill will cost in the Congressional Budget Office's initial 10 year window.
This afternoon, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) says that could create problems.
"We'll just have to look at the numbers," Nelson told reporters. "I think that's what's the question."
According to CBO, the current legislation before the Senate will require $871 billion in federal spending over 10 years. Asked whether he'd set a ceiling for the cost of the final health care bill, Nelson left some wiggle room. "871-ish," he said.
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Bleacher Creature
December 23, 2009 4:00 PM
What kind of parents did this guy have and has anyone ever explained to him that the word "compromise" usually involves BOTH give and take? He's apparently forgotten the "give" part . . .
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Steve LaBonne
December 23, 2009 4:02 PM
Ah yes, the familiar game of phony "fiscal conservatives", taking a stand on meaningless numbers picked out of the air. Especially rich when those arbitrary numbers are merely the result of accounting gimmicks.
But wars, as everyone knows, are free.
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Economides
December 23, 2009 4:15 PM
This guy is a first class dick. Well, maybe second class. Look at that hair.
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geofu54
December 23, 2009 4:17 PM in reply to Economides
That hair is revolting...
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Why oh why
December 23, 2009 4:50 PM
What is hilarious is the fact that benefits begin so late only because of accounting tricks in the first place, to respect the arbitrary $900B ceiling set by Obama (I guess he cared more about that than a public option).
So Nelson now really cares about something completely meaningless in practice: it wouldn't make the bill less fiscally "responsible" at all (but it would actually help some people sooner). Not surprising coming from the guy who thought "war bonds" were not government debt.
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USgreentech
December 23, 2009 5:04 PM
Richard Perle is strangling me right now. That is happening.
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Michael Lafferty
December 23, 2009 5:08 PM
Maybe we could walk away from the trillion dollar waste of effort in Afghanistan to pay for any projected increases? Or, pull out of Iraq? Or, impose significant tax hikes on wealthy individuals and corporations?
What - such matters are non-negotiable? Okay: back to corporate appeasement…
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ericf
December 23, 2009 6:28 PM
So he's admitting that the delays are just to please conservatives and let them pretend the bill costs less than it does, and it has nothing to do with practicality of implementing reforms, and he's OK with people going uninsured longer. Even in Nebraska, is he the best Democrat who can win?
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Andreams
December 23, 2009 7:35 PM in reply to ericf
Unfortunately, he's probably the only one who can win. It's him or someone even more conservative. At least he and a few others give us a majority, which helps in the committees. Can't think of anything else positive to say but since it's Xmas, thought I'd throw it in here.
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gharlane
December 25, 2009 4:27 PM
Um, Billy Boy, you have noticed that the CBO numbers get better (you know, smaller, meaning costing less) whenever a public option is included in the bill? You have noticed that, haven't you?
Fucking hypocrite.
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