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Nelson May Ask That His Nebraska Deal Be Removed
Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).
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Fox News reports that Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) said he may ask for a Nebraska earmark in the health care bill to be removed.
The deal, granted Nebraska federal funding in perpetuity for a Medicaid expansion -- something no other states got -- and has become political ammo for Republicans, who've been calling it the "Cornhusker Kickback." Nelson got the deal, reportedly, for accepting a compromise on abortion language.
Though he defended the exemption as a "fair deal," he said he never asked for the full federal funding that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid ended up granting his state. Nelson said he instead asked that states be allowed to refuse an expansion of Medicaid."This is the way Senate leadership chose to handle it. I never asked for 100 percent funding," he said.
Nelson has maintained that the only reason he even brought up Medicaid was that Nebraska Republican Gov. Dave Heineman put him up to it.
Nelson also said three lawmakers have told him they're seeking similar deals for their states.
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wbgonne
December 22, 2009 1:30 PM
What a bunch of incompetent clowns.
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Lonesome Otter
December 22, 2009 1:34 PM
remember when we were kids, and our parents said " if johnny jumped off a bridge, would jump off one also?....now we know where all those who answered "yes" ended up.....Congress!!
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yokem55
December 22, 2009 1:37 PM
In all seriousness, a full federalization of Medicaid would probably be a good thing in the long run. The Nebraska deal would be a big start to that. Having such an important program subject to the legislative whims and ups & downs of state budgets causes no amount of grief for those who depend on it.
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yokem55
December 22, 2009 1:38 PM in reply to yokem55
Edit: "no shortage of grief" is what I meant to say.
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Indie Pro
December 22, 2009 1:40 PM
he may, he might, yeah, sure.
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CT Voter
December 22, 2009 1:44 PM in reply to Indie Pro
I'm so convinced he will that I'll just hold my breath until he does!
Maybe he's auditioning for the part of The Last Honest Man in the Senate. Although I thought Joe Lieberman had lifetime tenure in that position.
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 2:04 PM in reply to CT Voter
Merry Christmas CT!
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CT Voter
December 22, 2009 2:08 PM in reply to SFCWallace
Back atcha, SFC! You get any snow in your parts? (Georgia, right?)
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 2:10 PM in reply to CT Voter
No snow (Macon GA) plenty of frost the past two days...
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Walter Mitty
December 22, 2009 1:44 PM
Is it more or less likely to support the bill now? Not the senate bill, but the final after committee bill. Will he filibuster it to try and recapture his conservative cred, or realize that he'll never please them.
I mean if he votes against the final bill even when this money is included it would show that he "isn't for sale". The GOP is winning the optics war and have painted Nelson into a corner.
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 2:03 PM in reply to Walter Mitty
I think the only chance this has of passing is if the House were to adopt the Senate bill "as is" (I don't see that happening)and then hold a couple of quick votes. I don't see a successful vote coming down the road in the Senate after all of us "birther-rightwing militia-aryan support grouping" types gather in front of their houses, hoisting pitchforks and torches, on Christmas morning.
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matyra
December 22, 2009 2:37 PM in reply to SFCWallace
Maybe sing Christmas carols too, for the added irony.
But seriously, this Nelson thing is a bit funny. It's like that old adage: Be careful what you wish for.
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sj660
December 22, 2009 2:54 PM in reply to SFCWallace
Civis Newsflash:
If the House passes the Senate bill "as is" there's no need for any other votes. It goes to the President.
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 3:07 PM in reply to sj660
Remember the day after the House's original vote, most of the lefties were assured the public option would be in and "Stupak" would be out once it went to the conference committee...
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Maritza
December 22, 2009 2:05 PM
I think that Nelson has gone so far in the process that he can't vote for a filibuster.
Perhaps all of these perks should be STRIPPED out of the bill.
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Economides
December 22, 2009 2:09 PM
Ha, Nelson got played. Reid gives him what he wanted, but knows that Nelson is going to look like a ass when it goes public. He can hardly back out of that position.
As for federalizing Medicaid, yes that is a good idea, anyway. Why haven;t "progressives" been advocating for a Medicaid buy-in all along.
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sj660
December 22, 2009 2:55 PM in reply to Economides
Because most people would hate Medicaid. It's not the same as Medicare. People would like that.
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Andreams
December 22, 2009 2:10 PM
Wish they'd either strip the bill of Baucus' Medicare for one town in his state or let all of us buy into it.
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 2:14 PM in reply to Andreams
If this whole "Health Care Legislation" is such a great idea, why can't they strip all the BS from it and let all these great leaders vote for it on principle...?
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Economides
December 22, 2009 2:18 PM in reply to SFCWallace
You are new to politics are you?
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SFCWallace
December 22, 2009 2:33 PM in reply to Economides
The "great leaders" and "principle" parts gave me away...huh?
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