Another blow for Barry O:
Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson — the moderate Democrat whose opposition is holding up the Senate's health care bill — says new language on abortion doesn't satisfy his concerns...
Democrats are wooing Nelson in order to get the 60 votes needed to pass a sweeping health care bill by Christmas.But Nelson said abortion wasn't his only concern and he didn't see how the Christmas deadline could be met.
This comes shortly after Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman called the bill “bad news for Nebraskans” and urged Nelson to block a vote on it:
The governor said Wednesday that a new analysis by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services indicates that while state spending on Medicaid, the health care system for the poor, would be less in the first three years after the bill took effect, Nebraska, after six years, would have $45 million in extra expenses.
“America’s health care system needs improvement, but this bill is not the answer,” Heineman said in a letter to Nelson. “You are now the 60th vote, and as Governor of the State that we both represent, I urge you to vote against this bill and against cloture.”
Obamacare is wildly unpopular in Nebraska where a recent poll revealed that 90% are happy with their current health care:
A poll conducted by the Tarrance Group over the past two days helps explain why Senator Ben Nelson is nervous about supporting even a modified Harry Reid-version of health care reform...
90 percent of Nebraskans said they were satisfied with their current health care; 9 percent were unsatisfied...
Asked "do you favor or oppose President Obama's plan to expand health care coverage to most Americans even if this plan increases the role of the federal government in health care and increases the cost of the deficit?" 67 percent opposed, 26 percent favored, and 7 percent were unsure.
And this little tidbit is of particular relevance to Senator Ben:
Respondents were asked directly about Nelson's vote. "As you may know, there is likely to be a vote soon in the US Senate on President Obama's health care plan. If Senator Ben Nelson votes in favor of this plan, would that make you more likely or les likely to support Senator Nelson when he runs for re-election?" 26 percent said "more likely;" 61 percent said "less likely;" 7 percent said "unsure;" and 6 percent said "no difference."
[emphasis added]
Perhaps Ben Nelson is interested staying in the Senate. With increasing opposition to ObamaCare coming from the left, this should be a no-brainer for Nelson.
Kill the Bill.
Update:
Nelson says no to the whole package.
Kill the bill!
h/t Memeorandum
