U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Nebraska) indicated over the weekend that he would support his colleagues in the majority party in their push to pass a socialized medicine bill by Christmas.
Barring any unforeseen developments, that gives Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid sixty votes to work with over the coming few days – or just enough votes to block any Republican attempts to shut down the bill.
Nelson had been holding out – ostensibly – for tougher pro-life language in the massive legislation, which is still being written behind closed doors by Reid and members of the Obama administration.
Of course, Nelson’s attempt to portray himself as a pro-life crusader fell apart Sunday.
First, his deal does nothing to stop federally-funded abortions, and the so-called “state opt-out” which he supposedly “won” through his tireless negotiations was already included in the bill.
Unlike a House pro-life compromise successfully pushed by Rep. Bart Stupnak, the “pro-life compromise” agreed to by Nelson specifically provides for federal subsidies to flow to plans that cover elective abortions. Previously, Nelson had insisted that he would never support such a plan, but that was before Reid paid him off – and before Obama allegedly backed him down by threatening the closure of Offutt Air Force Base near Omaha if he didn’t go along with the bill.
Under the latest draft of “health care reform” (which, like everything in Washington, will be passed without anyone even reading it), the federal government will assume the full cost of new Medicaid enrollees in the state of Nebraska beginning in 2017 – and extending forever.
No other state gets such a sweetheart deal (worth $45 million over the first decade), just like no other state got the $300 million awarded to Louisiana in exchange for Sen. Mary Landrieu’s support of the legislation.
Of course, every other state will be forced to pay for those glorified bribes.
Like gangster Pablo Escobar’s plata o plomo (a.k.a “silver or lead,” or “money or bullets”), Obama and his Democratic allies have used every pressure point possible to ram this bill – which 56% of the country opposes – through the legislative process.
In the House, Speaker Nancy Pelosi is also alleged to have threatened waffling democrats – like South Carolina’s John Spratt – with the loss of their committee chairmanships if they voted the wrong way.
But Nelson’s sellout is likely to be best remembered, as it is the one that will lead directly to Senate passage of the legislation.
Sad, sad, sad …
Want to tell Nelson what you think?
Here’s his contact page …
By SC1st December 20, 2009 at 8:19 pm
Sure, this is the first time a legal, b/c it is legal,quid pro quo has been used in passing legislation! I wish people and Fits would stop acting like they just discovered something new.Btw, the bill that will pass the Senate has no public option or earlier buy in for medicare, plus strict restrictions on abortion coverage(although, newsflash abortion is legal!), so where’s the new “socialism” b/c Medicaid has existed for decades. SC should be pissed it did not have Graham, Demint and others use a little quid pro quo to get much needed help for it, instead our reps worry about waterloos, etc.The bill will try to regulate a mob known as health insurance coporations, something we do with other corp. entities b/c its needed.
By Overruled December 20, 2009 at 9:01 pm
In the mid 90′s when R’s championed the Part D Medicare program to help control costs for seniors etc, they claimed major victory, and rarely discussed the over $1 trillion dollar cost. It was an effort to do what…boost votes in a predominant R voting bracket (65 and older), so they shouldn’t be “shocked and outraged” by the cost of the D’s global health care plan (which is 250+ millon LESS) because they are extending benefits and attempting to help not only people that cannot afford or do not have insurance but are looking to their base as well. Trust me, BC/BS, United, Cigna will not be very impacted by this….in all likelihood their profits will likely rise.
By No Way! December 20, 2009 at 9:28 pm
@#$% the Democrats! We will reverse this and send their sorry ___es home in 2010!
By Liberty For Me December 20, 2009 at 9:51 pm
SC1st…where’s the new “socialism”?…Grow a brain!!!!!!!!!!
By Liberty For Me December 20, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Overruled..You are right.It is a two party scam
By SC1st December 21, 2009 at 8:00 am
To liberty for me, I said there is no new socialism b/c Medicaid- which will be paid by the feds for Nebraska- is NOT new b/c it has existed for decades.Reading is fundamental but so is COMPREHENSION!
By Recovering Lobbyist December 21, 2009 at 9:07 am
I love how some like “by No Way!” say “we” will send the Dems home in 2010. There is nothing South Carolina can do to change the political make up of Washington. All but one of our congressional delegation are Republicans. Some of them may be RINOs, but all 7 of them voted against the health care reform legislation. What exactly can “we” do to change things in Washington? Nothing.
By Mrs. Ethel Krabitz December 21, 2009 at 9:14 am
i hope and pray that every Senator voting for this Bill is defeated.