Wheeling and Dealing: Nebraskans Outraged at Sen. Ben Nelson’s Sell-out on Health Care Bill
Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on December 21, 2009
Health Care Sell-out: Nebraska's Sen. Ben Nelson
Sen. Ben Nelson is in boiling hot water with many of his constituents in Nebraska.
Being a sell-out on ObamaCare is not what they wanted.
From My Way News: Neb.’s Nelson sees backlash on health reform plan:
OMAHA, Neb. (AP) – It was the concern of Nebraska’s Republican governor over expanded Medicaid costs in the proposed Senate health care overhaul bill that led to a compromise to cover his state’s estimated $45 million share over a decade, U.S. Sen. Ben Nelson said Sunday.
Gov. Dave Heineman “contacted me and he said this is another unfunded federal mandate and it’s going to stress the state budget, and I agreed with him,” the Nebraska Democrat said. “I said to the leader and others that this is something that has to be fixed. I didn’t participate in the way it was fixed.”
But Heineman expressed anything but gratitude, saying he had nothing to do with the compromise and calling the overhaul bill “bad news for Nebraska and bad news for America.”
“Nebraskans did not ask for a special deal, only a fair deal,” Heineman said in a statement Sunday.
That criticism is only a taste of what Nelson has received since announcing Saturday that he would become the 60th vote needed to advance the landmark legislation.
Despite the perks Nelson managed to garner for Nebraska in finally agreeing to support the overhaul bill, the backlash from those who wanted Nelson to hold a hard line against the measure was immediate.
Abortion foes howled in protest. Nebraska Right to Life, which has long endorsed Nelson, issued a scathing statement that dubbed Nelson a traitor. The state’s Catholic bishops followed Sunday with a statement that they were “extremely disappointed” in him.
From Gateway Pundit:
Nebraska Republicans set up the official “Give Ben the Boot” website after the senator announced he would vote with the other 59 democrats in support of Obamacare today.
67% of Nebraskans oppose Obamacare.
From The Miami Herald: Nelson see backlash on healthcare reform:
Nebraska’s Republican Sen. Mike Johanns said he was “stunned and incredibly disappointed,” and called the compromise’s abortion language a “watered-down accounting gimmick that leads to Nebraska taxpayers subsidizing abortions in other states.”
The compromise tries to maintain a strict separation between taxpayer funds and private premiums that would pay for abortion coverage. It would also allow states to restrict abortion coverage in new insurance marketplaces.
Nelson obtained increased federal funds to cover his state’s cost of covering an expanded Medicaid population at what one Democratic official estimated at $45 million over a decade.
A group called Americans for Prosperity of Nebraska was to hold a rally Sunday in Omaha at which former GOP presidential candidate Mike Huckabee was to speak. Nebraska Republican Rep. Lee Terry also planned to speak in an effort to persuade Nelson to change his mind.
From Asheville Tea Party: Ben Nelson Got “Free” Medicaid for Life for Nebraska. What did Kay Hagan get for North Carolina? (Update 7-Demcare Bribelist):
Ben Nelson Got Free (e.g. federally-funded) Medicaid for Life for Nebraska. Mary Landrieu got $300 million in taxpayer-funded favors for Louisiana. Socialist Bernie Sanders got $10 billion for soviet-style “Community Health Centers” and $600 million in Medicaid for Vermont. John Kerry (who served in Vietnam) got $500 million for Massachusetts. Joe Lieberman cut a deal as well. Chris Dodd got $100 million for Conecticut. Senators Charles Schumer of New York, Bill Nelson of Florida and Ron Wyden of Oregon secured special provisions shielding seniors in their states from Medicare Advantage cuts. Senator Bob Casey says he wants ‘very comparable’ protections for his state. Sen. Reid had carved out his own Medicaid exemption for Nevada. What did Kay Hagan Get in exchange for her promised “Yes” vote on Socialized Medicine?
Nothing.
Apparently Kay Hagan intends to freely and willingly adopt British-style socialized medicine, panels of bureaucrats deciding what medical procedures we are allowed to have, tax increases on businesses and individuals, jail time for refuseniks, taxpayer-funded abortions if the States allow, Medicare cuts for seniors, wage controls for doctors, health care rationing for everyone, and massive deficit spending – Not because she got anything in return for North Carolina, but because she actually likes all those things.
From Michelle Malkin:
Sen. Ben Nelson’s “Cornhusker Kickback.” The CBO says the Nebraska Democrat sellout’s special Medicaid expansion subsidy will initially cost an estimated $100 million. The Hill reports that while Nelson credited Nebraska’s governor for giving him the idea to lobby for the government preference, Nebraska’s governor assailed the payoff:
“Nebraskans did not ask for a special deal, only a fair deal,” Heineman said in a statement Sunday. In response, Nelson fired off a letter Sunday to Heineman saying he’s prepared to ask that the provision covering Nebraska’s Medicaid share “be removed from the amendment in conference, if it is your desire.”
Another post from Malkin, More Nebraska voters call out Cornhuckster Ben Nelson:
Yesterday, I published a scathing letter from a Nebraska doctor to Ben Nelson.
Dr. Becky Hollibaugh of Friend, NE minced no words: “You have my disgust and disdain forever, you socialist-coddling coward.”
And as I noted yesterday, the backlash against Nelson’s sellout is building.
And more Nebraskans are calling the Cornhuckster out.
From Nebraskans Kelli and John Thomazin:
We are deeply disappointed at your lack of moral courage. You have misrepresented the people of Nebraska, and have jumped on the moral relativism band-wagon, where is your honor to your constituents?
We are deeply disappointed at your lack of moral courage. You have misrepresented the people of Nebraska, and have jumped on the moral relativism band-wagon, where is your honor to your constituents?
You have sold us out and have allowed our goverment to pay for the killing of unborn babies for the trade off of medicaid funding. How pathetic. You have been bought.
You will not get our support nor the support of many of our friends. Your political career is over. You had a chance to stand up against a bill that does not solve our health care problems and you failed us! Where is there talk of tort reform and competition for our health care dollars? The goverment will not be able to help run a better health care system.
We are saddened by your vote. You should strongly consider NOT voting with the Democrats for this bill just so that “something” gets passed. This is not a good solution on multiple accounts. More work should be done to solve the problem and not rush into something we will regret…
Related reading:
Riehl World View: Despite Vote, Last Night Left Me Very Optimistic
Patterico’s Pontifications: Nebraska Reacts to Ben Nelson and Holding Out for Health Care and Scheduling the Senate Vote on Health Care and Harry Reid Speaks (Updated) and Obama’s Associates: Dr. Quentin Young
Gateway Pundit: Only 17% of Nebraskans Approve of Bribes Nelson Took From Harry Reid For Obamacare Vote and Sen. Whitehouse: Obamacare Opponents Are Birthers, Right-Wing Militias & Aryan Groups (Video) and Nebraska Republicans Set Up “Give Ben the Boot” Website and Obama Warns That Unless His Nationalized Health Care Bill Is Passed the US Will Go Bankrupt and Change!… 20 States Cut Mammograms After Government Report Released and 61% of Americans Against Democrat’s Nationalized Health Care Bill and 81% Disagree With New Government Rationed Mammogram Rules and Death Panel Update: California Ends Mammogram Subsidies for Poor Women Under 50 and Hundreds Protest Obamacare at St. Louis Million Med March
Cold Fury: Reid Backdoors America
Diary of a Mad Conservative: Red State & Erick Erickson: Insightful stuff
The Powers That Be: Obamacare Likely to Pass; Sen. Nelson Caves to Pressure Like a Chinese Coal Mine and Howard ‘YEEARGH!’ Dean Denounces Obamacare Bill
American Thinker: ‘Twas the Night before Obamacare’
Pierre Legrand’s Pink Flamingo Bar: So Help Me, God, If This Health Care Bill Passes It Becomes Personal and I Promise A Fight!
Washington Post: Deal on health bill is reached
Urbin Report: A Nebraska doctor’s message for Ben Nelson
Caffeinated Thoughts: What is a Right?
Ace of Spades HQ, Reidcare Taxes Tanning Salons Too
Nice Deb: EMERGENCY HEALTH CARE RALLY, Omaha, NE, Sunday 12/20 and Nelson Waivering – Deal Likely (UPDATE: Done Deal) and ObamaCare On The Brink Precipice… and Video: Krauthammer On DemCare: “It Will Take A Decade To Undo The Damage”
Sister Toldjah: 2012 election: Is Ben Nelson in trouble? and Another Dem Senator paid for pro-healthcare “reform” vote
The Sundries Shack: Coburn Saves America; Dems Cheat Their Faces Off
A Conservative Lesbian: Bitchslap for John Aravosis: Democrats are losing on healthcare reform because their proposals stink — it’s not a leadership thang, you fool
On My Watch – The Writings of SamHenry: Nelson’s Treason Crowns Seniors as the Throwaway Generation
Hot Air: The $1.2 billion cloture vote in the dead of night and Merry Christmas: Senate ObamaCare vote may come on December 24th
Frugal Café Blog Zone: Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday vs. Barack Obama: ObamaCare (video) and Frankenstein’s Monster… ObamaCare’s Hideous, Clumsy Creation: Which Version of ObamaCare Will Be Up for Vote? and Dem Harry Reid’s Latest Lunacy: Opposing ObamaCare the Same As Supporting Slavery… Get That Race Card Out of My Face, Dirty Harry (video) and Howard Dean Blasts ObamaCare on Air America… Wants to Kill the Bill (audio/video) and Congress, Are You All Deaf? Polls Climbing Against ObamaCare
VotingFemale Speaks!: Socialists Claim They Can Conquer Death Itself and Senate ObamaCare funds Elective Abortions; details hidden in legalese and Lieberman – One against Many; it is a matter of his principles: Update: Joe didn’t blink, they did
Le·gal In·sur·rec·tion: Dems Break It, They Own It and Nebraskans Must Be Proud This Morning and Reid: Hurry to Open Debate Then Let’s Leave for the Holiday
Amused Cynic: More on Obama’s breast cancer death-panel…
Moonbat Patrol: Fourth And Long On ObamaCare, Time To Punt
Chicks On The Right: Transparency, My Butt
Michelle Malkin: Sneaky Sunday Senate liveblog, open thread; the building backlash against Ben Nelson; Harkin: Do it for Teddy K!; McConnell: “It is not too late” to kill it; Reid: People are dyyyying! “We are reshaping the nation;” cloture motion passes, 60-40 and Wheeling & dealing: Snowe pow-wows with Obama; Landrieu, Schumer, Daschle behind the scenes and The Demcare bribe list
Temple of Mut: Senate Switchboards Melting!
GayPatriot: The Democrats Steal Christmas… & a whole lot more and Democrats: In Power Now, but Still Running Against George Bush and Harry Reid’s Deputy Doesn’t Know What’s in Reid’s Healthcare Bill
The Snooper Report: PelosiCare and ReidCare Counting Their Days
Power Line: Arkansas to be spared of “Stalinists”
Dana Loesch, Big Government: Scare Tactics: Obama Says USA Will ‘Go Bankrupt’ if Senate Bill Not Passed
Stage Right, Big Hollywood: Targeting Lieberman’s Wife: ‘Hollywood Jane’ Hamsher and Her New McCarthyites
Thomas Del Beccaro, Big Government: Health Care’s Coming Heart Attack – A Pre-Obama Care Death Panel?
Brutally Honest: Howard Dean: ObamaCare is “a giant bailout that makes AIG look cheap”
Dr, Melissa Clouthier: Passing Obamacare Will Hurt Democrats, Not Passing Obamacare Will Hurt Democrats–UPDATED
Rhymes With Right: Will Somebody Remind Senator Reid
Heather Higgins, Big Government: Obama and Democrat Leadership: Out of Touch and Desperate
Dick Morris, Big Government: New Health Care Deal: They’re On The Run!
Big Lizards: Never Retreat, Never Surrender
Pundit & Pundette: Flashback: Obama healthcare reform promises
Robert Stacy McCain, American Spectator: Harry Reid’s Armenian Nightmare
Hugh Hewitt: Do These Supporters of Obamacare Inspire Confidence In The Scheme?
The Hill’s Blog Briefing Room: Healthcare and approval ratings
The Powers That Be: Who Should Read the Senate Health Bill Aloud?
Politico: Health deal hinged on abortion
The Foundry, Heritage Foundation: The Reid Amendment: Sweetheart Deals and Interstate Warfare and A Thinly-Disguised Power Grab: The Latest Senate “Compromise” On The Government-Run Health Plan
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Lisa Martinez, Palin Twibe. Palin Twibe said: Frugal Cafe': Wheeling and Dealing: Nebraskans Outraged at Sen. Ben Nelson’s Sell-out on Hea.. http://bit.ly/7GroMG [...]
[...] of “Seedy Chicago Politics” Runs White House, Outrageous Bribes to Pass ObamaCare (video) and Wheeling and Dealing: Nebraskans Outraged at Sen. Ben Nelson’s Sell-out on Health Care Bill and Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday vs. Barack Obama: ObamaCare (video) and Frankenstein’s Monster… [...]
[...] of “Seedy Chicago Politics” Runs White House, Outrageous Bribes to Pass ObamaCare (video) and Wheeling and Dealing: Nebraskans Outraged at Sen. Ben Nelson’s Sell-out on Health Care Bill and Dragnet’s Sgt. Joe Friday vs. Barack Obama: ObamaCare (video) and Frankenstein’s Monster… [...]
Nelson should be ashamed of himself for misrepresenting the citizens of Nebraska, I am from Colorado and we are in the same position in regards to Government Healthcare.
Our Senators and Governor do not care what the citizens of Colorado want, they want to take our guns, force Healthcare down our throats, stop natual gas exploration all while our economy is going down the toilet??? jobs lost etc..
There are very few people that work for the US citizens in Government that want anything but to obtain complete control over us as individuals, Stand up and let them know what you want, don’t let them continue on this path.
I hope that the citizens of Nebraska succeed in booting Nelson right out of office, he along with many others on both sides deserve the boot!
We need to all stand united and protect our Constitution, before they suceed in the complete transition of a new world order. Save our Rights, and Freedom, protect our Constitution before it is to late.
God Bless our Troops and God Bless America, this US Citizen hopes all our Troops come home safe,
Bob
[...] “good” or “moderate” Democrats are bad. Ben Nelson sold his vote – to the red-faced outrage of his own state – while dishonestly claiming he had protected taxpayer funds from being used to fund [...]
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