rssBen Nelson: I’ll Block a Health Care Bill That Includes a Public Option
Wednesday, November 11, 2009 at 9:55 am
- 7 Comments
Sen. Ben Nelson, the conservative-leaning Nebraska Democrat, vowed to filibuster health reform legislation if it includes a public health insurance plan, ABC News reported yesterday.
“Well, first of all, it has more than a robust public option, it’s got a totally government-run plan, the costs are extraordinary associated with it, it increases taxes in a way that will not pass in the Senate and I could go on and on and on,” Nelson said in an interview that is part of ABC News’ Subway Series with Jonathan Karl.
“Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won’t vote to move it,” he added. “For sure.”
Nelson here is following in the footsteps of Sen. Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), who announced last month that he also would join Republicans in filibustering the Democrats’ health reform bill if it contains a public option, as party leaders have said there will be. As a result, Lieberman has become the target of liberal protesters, some of whom are idling in jail awaiting a talk with the senator. Nelson might want to consider locking his office door.
7 Comments
Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 10:06 am
Mike – Wasn't Nelson responding to questions relating to the House bill specifically? Everyone agrees that the House bill will never get a vote in the Senate.
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Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 10:41 am
If I'm reading it right, he's not referring just to the House bill, but anything that resembles the House bill. It seems that he's marking his parameters, and a strong public option falls outside what he's willing to accept. The “opt-out” public plan in the Senate bill isn't as muscular as many liberals would like, but it's well too intrusive for conservatives. (Remember also that no single industry has given more to Nelson over his congressional career than the insurance industry.)
Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 11:31 am
I think we're both right actually. In which case I would hope Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Dodd et al need to look at reconciliation – perhaps bifurcating the public option in a separate reconciliation bill.
Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 3:06 pm
Mike – Wasn't Nelson responding to questions relating to the House bill specifically? Everyone agrees that the House bill will never get a vote in the Senate.
Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 3:41 pm
If I'm reading it right, he's not referring just to the House bill, but anything that resembles the House bill. It seems that he's marking his parameters, and a strong public option falls outside what he's willing to accept. The “opt-out” public plan in the Senate bill isn't as muscular as many liberals would like, but it's well too intrusive for conservatives. (Remember also that no single industry has given more to Nelson over his congressional career than the insurance industry.)
Comment posted November 11, 2009 @ 4:31 pm
I think we're both right actually. In which case I would hope Reid, Durbin, Schumer, Dodd et al need to look at reconciliation – perhaps bifurcating the public option in a separate reconciliation bill.
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