By fitsnews – December 20, 2009
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 …
