Ben Nelson Plans To Oppose Public Health Plan

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Friday that he will oppose legislation that would give people the option of a public health insurance plan. The move puts him on the opposite side of two-thirds of Americans.

A poll released this week by Consumer Reports National Research Center showed that 66 percent of Americans back the creation of a public health plan that would compete with private plans. Nelson, in comments made to CQ, joins the 16 percent of poll respondents who said they oppose the plan.

Nelson's problem, he told CQ, is that the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans. "At the end of the day, the public plan wins the game," Nelson said. Including a public option in a health plan, he said, was a "deal breaker."

A Nelson spokesman didn't return a call for comment.

As he so often does, Nelson said, according to CQ, that he planned to form a "coalition of like-minded centrists opposed to the creation of a public plan, as a counterweight to Democrats pushing for it."

That coalition will not include 16 Democratic senators who signed a letter calling for a public plan earlier this week, including Senate leaders Dick Durbin (Ill.) and Charles Schumer (N.Y.).

If Democrats use the reconciliation process to pass health care reform, however, Nelson's vote would not be needed, as only a simple majority could pass the legislation.

Ryan Grim is the author of the forthcoming book This Is Your Country On Drugs: The Secret History of Getting High in America

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Comments

[ChicagoBob]

But then again, the insurance industry could do something to become competitive.

Nelson has been endorsed by a variety of business interests and appears to be a fan of the 'free market.'

Well, Mr. Nelson, let the free market go to work.

[Rog49Thomas]

What a dangerous unAmerican idea.

Those who have read Adam Smith know that under his theory in a free market firms would compete with one another so vigorously that all profits would disappear.

"Free market" advocates in the USA bear a striking resemblance to so-called "Christians", they claim to be adherents but avoid the more personally difficult aspects of the doctrine.

[Querent]

So in your tiny voice, your monstrous ego is declaiming what is "unAmerican"? Not for you to say.

[guntotinganglion]

There are no free markets, much like lunches.

[joeyfoto]

I thi9nk it's only fair to let Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson speak for himself:

"Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson today released the following statement on the President’s nomination of Harriett Miers to serve as the 110th Associate Justice of the Supreme Court. “It appears the President has made a sound choice in Harriet Miers. From every indication it seems that she has the qualifications and experience to serve on the Supreme Court. Based on her background and experience, if confirmed, she would undoubtedly bring a new perspective and balance to the Court. As I said with the Roberts nomination, the best case scenario for Harriett Miers, the President and the Country will be for Harriett Miers to emerge from the confirmation hearings with broad support. The President should be commended for taking such care and time to nominate someone who could garner the same broad bipartisan support that John Roberts did."

It is also worth noting that, according to Wikipedia: "In the general election, Nelson was endorsed by the National Rifle Association, Nebraska Right to Life [7], Nebraskans United for Life [8], the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Businesses [9], Nebraska Farmers Union PAC, National Farmers Union PAC, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC, the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, and the Omaha Police Union, all of which are conservative-leaning groups."

Democrats don't have nearly as much of a majority in the Senate as we thought.

[kassandrasduplex]

And apparently modern Democrats aren't nearly as progressive as they used to be either...

[aflyinyoursoup]

How many Nebraskans does it take to screw in a light bulb?

We'll never know...There aren't any light bulbs in Nebraska....

[Madmac]

It's time to oppose Ben Nelson and those like minded individuals

[lizr]

MOVE ON....??

Let's target this guy for a primary challenger, and fund him/her....

[kassandrasduplex]

Opposing a 'public" plan is NOT 'centrist", it is EXTREME reactionary. We already have a public plan that worked very well until the Bush Ad. brought about the Advantage and Part D garbage, it's called Medicare-Medicaid and it works just fine and costs FAR LESS to administer than private HMO plans. All we need to do is what Clinton had wanted in 94, simply EXPAND those programs and fund them with just a snippet of the 37 percent of every tax dollar that current;ly goes to devising Pentagon weapons systems. The private insurers can still offer their garbage for the rich who want special TLC. The rest of us will have what the First World has enjoyed now for decades. But sadly it looks as though we will be getting something like the Democrats and Rotten Romney brought to Massachussetts, a rip off.

[lizr]

GREAT IDEA!!

[devans00]

I'm still waiting for these fools in Congress who are against a public health insurance plan to give up their own government sponsored health insurance. After all, what's good for the goose is good for the gander.

[aflyinyoursoup]

"If Democrats use the reconciliation process to pass health care reform, however, Nelson's vote would not be needed, as only a simple majority could pass the legislation."

So why the hell haven't the Senate Democrats used this "reconciliation process" yet?
Are they ALL in the pocket of the K Street Lobbies?

Enough of this nonsense!

[jeg]

It's only usable in certain circumstances. See http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reconciliation_(U.S._Congress) for more information.

[aflyinyoursoup]

Looks like it's only applicable to "budget" issues.
Thanks for the education.

[aflyinyoursoup]

"Nelson's problem, he told CQ, is that the public plan would be too attractive and would hurt the private insurance plans. "At the end of the day, the public plan wins the game," Nelson said. Including a public option in a health plan, he said, was a "deal breaker."

What a remarkably stupid thing to say.
If the people of Nebraska keep this cretin as their Senator...What a remarkably stupid thing to do...

[kalidescopemind]

Amen to that!! The more I think about it, the dumber it sounds!!

[Raintree]

Some of us would rather not claim him...

[lizr]

hope you can get the word out to the rest.

let us know what we can do to help!

[VS007]

Throw this bum out.

[jmpurser]

While we're at it let's get rid of those socialized schools, those socialized police forces, those socialized fire departments and most of all that socialized military!

[Tahut]

Yeah! That would teach those repuglicans, who are always screaming about cutting taxes a lesson! If those services were privatized, it'd all be pay-as-you-go. Police respond to an accident - you get a bill for their time and service. Your house catches fire - you get a bill for the time, service and water used to put it out. You have school-aged children - you get a bill per child for the level of instruction; the more time it takes a teacher to instruct your child, the more you pay. And if the military responds to a terrorist attack - the cost of time, movement of supplies and troops, arms, ammo and support equipment are billed to every American. That will make the IRS a holy national shrine of respect for the old days.

[Beamreach]

Geez, isn't there some hint of impropriety or scandal we can use to get him back in line! I guess it's too much to ask. His reelection is too far away for this to really hurt him I fear.

[Grannyover70]

Please, Please, Harry, use the reconciliation process! Stand Firm! If they fillibuster, keep them up day and night for as long as necessary. Democratic Senators need to vote for the benefit of their constituents, not the large corporations.

[chronic]

Harry Reid? Ha! Don't make me laugh.

[sueinmn]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vS_6zn3B0pw

check this out and pass it around! America needs to see the arrogance against us citizens supporting corrupt lobbying!

[EconPadawan]

A lot of republicans scream "social medicine" while at the same time are currently receiving socialized healthcare. Anyone else want to chime in on this hypocrisy?

[devans00]

Socialized health care is only the beginning of it, EconPadawan. Republicans also receive a salary and retirement pension from public funds. All as reward for their work to make the system as inefficient and anti human as possible.

[CanadianBeef]

I am so tired of DINOs (Democrats In Name Only) like Nelson lying that it's "centrist" to oppose a public health insurance plan. By that measure, Sen. Nelson should immediately push for the abolition of Medicare! Kep calling out these DINOs, these traitors to real progressivism in America. In what universe is it "centrism" to align himself, as Nelson does, with the 20 per cent of far-right opinion. That's what he's in the center of. As Judge Judy would say, "Don't pee on my leg and tell me you're a drug-sniffing dog."
In Canada, where I live, no politician dares to touch our universal, single-payer health system. After 40 years living under this system, only the most far-right Canadians even talk about private health insurance. Sen. Nelson is right about that part -- U.S. insurance companies cannot compete with a public system that pays no dividends, profits, stock options, billing and marketing costs, CEO salaries and collection agents. No one in Canada ever hears of co-pays, HMOs, pre-existing conditions, or medical bills, except when they watch American news on TV.
My American cousins, it's time to join the rest of the industrialized world, where health care is considered a right and care comes before profit.

[OneLiberalLady]

You're right on. Take a look at this example of CEO salaries:
ANNUAL COMPENSATION OF HEALTH INSURANCE COMPANY EXECUTIVES (2006 and 2007 figures):


• Ronald A. Williams, Chair/ CEO, Aetna Inc., $23,045,834
• H. Edward Hanway, Chair/ CEO, Cigna Corp, $30.16 million
• David B. Snow, Jr, Chair/ CEO, Medco Health, $21.76 million
• Michael B. MCallister, CEO, Humana Inc, $20.06 million
• Stephen J. Hemsley, CEO, UnitedHealth Group, $13,164,529
• Angela F. Braly, President/ CEO, Wellpoint, $9,094,771
• Dale B. Wolf, CEO, Coventry Health Care, $20.86 million
• Jay M. Gellert, President/ CEO, Health Net, $16.65 million
• William C. Van Faasen, Chairman, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3 million plus $16.4 million in retirement benefits
• Charlie Baker, President/ CEO, Harvard Pilgrim Health Care, $1.5 million
• James Roosevelt, Jr., CEO, Tufts Associated Health Plans, $1.3 million
• Cleve L. Killingsworth, President/CEO Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, $3.6 million
• Raymond McCaskey, CEO, Health Care Service Corp (Blue Cross Blue Shield), $10.3 million
• Daniel P. McCartney, CEO, Healthcare Services Group, Inc, $ 1,061,513
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751
• Daniel Loepp, CEO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, $1,657,555
• Todd S. Farha, CEO, WellCare Health Plans, $5,270,825
• Michael F. Neidorff, CEO, Centene Corp, $8,750,751

[snapshot1940]

Wait! You're supposed to complain about the quality being poor and how long you have to wait for a doctor to see you and how this socialized medicine has completely ruined the economy of the country and the health of your people.

[LeLoup]

Guys like Ben Nelson will make people realize that the normal means of signaling your discontent are completely ineffective.

That can't be a good thing.

[jolebo]

I think you are exactly right. If we let universal healthcare get away from us now, we will never get it. We need to do whatever it takes to insure it's passage.