Ben Nelson All Alone In Quest To Block Health Care Reform

Sen. Ben Nelson announced at the beginning of this month that he opposed the creation of a public health care plan that people would have the option to buy into. He'd be gathering together a coalition of like-minded senators to oppose the plan, the conservative Democrat from Nebraska promised.

More than two weeks later, it's still a coalition of one.

Since Nelson's announcement, eight moderate Democrats and one Republican have told the Huffington Post that they are open to a public health care option. Two others, Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.), have signed on to the idea.

Last week, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) said they were open to a public plan but undecided. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) said much the same in a letter to the advocacy group Health Care for America Now,

Add more names to the list of those open to a public option: Jon Tester (Mont.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Maria Cantwell (Wash.).

Because Democratic leaders have said they are willing to pass health care reform with a simple majority -- rather than the 60 votes needed for most Senate business -- fewer centrist senators are needed.

Those centrists are not entirely convinced, but they're not closed off to the idea.

"The devil's in the detail on all this stuff. My key is accessibility and affordability. Those are the two things, but I think everything should be on the table," said Tester.

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"I've been on Sen. Wyden's bill because I believe in a bipartisan discussion about how we can make reforms," said Cantwell, referring to Sen. Ron Wyden (D-Oregon), whose bipartisan bill does not include a public option.

Cantwell hopes for a bipartisan deal, but is open to the kind of public option compromise Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) has proposed. "I don't want to sign off on his proposal, but in general I'm not opposed to the concept of having a plan like that," she said.

"It's something that I'm still looking into right now," said Hagan. "I want to be sure we have affordability and accessibility, but I also want to be sure that competition's in play and that our insurers can continue to do business... I need to go back and actually research it."

"We're looking at that option to see if it's going to be competitive and, you know, if it's going to be productive. I'm still open minded," said Lincoln.

A Nelson spokesman said that Nelson is still talking to like-minded colleagues in hopes of building a coalition opposed to the public plan.

The following 21 Democratic senators have signed onto a letter to finance committee chair Max Baucus (D-Mont.) and health committee chair Ted Kennedy (D-Mass.). Kennedy supports a public option; Baucus is open to one.

Sherrod Brown (D-OH)
John D. (Jay) Rockefeller (D-WV)
Dick Durbin (D-IL)
Charles E. Schumer (D-NY)
Tom Harkin (D-IA)
Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
Carl Levin (D-MI)
Jack Reed (D-RI)
Debbie Stabenow (D-MI)
Bernie Sanders (I-VT)
Bob Casey (D-PA)
Jim Webb (D-VA)
Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI)
Jeff Merkley (D-OR)
Ted Kaufman (D-DE)
Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY)
Daniel K. Akaka (D-HI)
Barbara A. Mikulski (D-MD)
Russ Feingold (D-WI)
Benjamin L. Cardin (D-MD)
Claire McCaskill (D-MO)

Note to flaks: If your boss supports a public option and isn't on this list, let me know at [e-mail].

Comments

[SEQUOIABISON]

Unfortunately, Bribing a government official is still legal in America and apparently Senator Nelson has no shame about putting his big donor insurance companies over the needs of his ordinary constituents.

A travesty and a mockery of our supposedly "democratic" system of government, lets get rid of Congress and representatives and lets start moving toward a true democracy of direct voting from the people, instead of our vote being filtered through a corrupt representative who sells his vote to the highest bidder.

We have the technology to establish a true democracy, we must stop the trend of corporations controlling our government and return to, or begin, government of, by and for the people.

[kewps]

This constituent for one has already written to him letting him know in no uncertain terms that I will never vote for him again-ever. His stance on this issue I find extremely apalling. He is nothing but a fake democrat.

[jadeba]

Ummmm, in a perfect world with perfect people, that might work. I can't help envisioning a situation akin to "herding cats" with your proposal. Get 3 people together and you're likely to have trouble.

With all the problems inherent in any government system, we do have the opportunity to choose who works for us. If Nelson doesn't change his stance, every one of us should do everything in our power to remove him. I know many here have signed petitions and written letters and I suspect that may be the reason more conservadems have altered their view of the public option.

[MrWampler]

Yah, that went over really well with Prop 8. Let's continue that.

[sueno]

Its time to investigate Ben Nelson-
There has to be a reason for Ben to stall progress.
He didn't mind bailing out AIG-
Its clear Ben Nelson isn't for the "little" person
but is in the pockets of insurance companies.

[TexMex69]

Please remember most Senators and Congress men are Lawyers or Doctors

Where do you think their loyalties are?

[Carole Huber]

Several members of my family are health care providers and they fully support a single pay system. They are fully aware of abusive practices by insurance companies. Don't assume every doctor is opposed.

[SouthernLiberal101]

I am confused by the fear of having a government run health care system. Every other major industrialized country has a government run system and they work better than our. The US spends twice as much per person than any other country for medical services but our health care system is only ranked 34th by the WHO.

I would much rather have a government agnecy involved than a private insurance company who has a profit incentive to deny my care.

Full disclosure: I have great insurance, but feel that quality healthcare should be a basic human right, not a benefit for the privileged. I also grew up in Canada and there healthcare system is better then ours.

[beerguy]

Anybody on here in favor of rationing health care which is what will occur with a single pay. government run system.

[Patriot86]

My HMO already does that as do private insurance companies who refuse to issue policies for people with diabetes and high blood pressure as well as more serious ailments...then there is the cost of such policies. Who can afford private insurance?

[Photofarm]

Did you ever think that part of the reason Insurance is so high might be Medicare payments to Doctors and Hospitals is too low, so they are making up the price difference by charging more to insurance companies?

[jwredd]

Why are you so worried about single payer? Realistically it's not even on the table as an option.

[Photofarm]

That is exactly what is going to happen. Since people don't like single payer, they are using the liars method, set up a system to get there without having to actually vote on a single payer system.

[CountryBeforeParty]

That's actually not what would happen. Please educate yourself on this before you make such ridiculous statements again.

[tjdumas]

Thank you, some on here are really confused. .

[Rmtns]

The rationing that is currently in force is that if you don't have insurance, or a good lawyer to sue your insurance company to force them to pay for your medical bills. you don't get the care needed.
The current system merely enriches the insurance and tort lawyers, rather than providing medical care.

[lylo]

Yes!!!!!!!!!!!!
I am massively in favor of rationing health care!

Especially if it means that I will get some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PS
We already have a form of single-pay health care in this country. Go to your county health department. Guess what? GOVERNMENT RUN HEALTH CARE!!!!!!!!!!!!
Guess what else? IT'S THE ONLY AFFORDABLE HEALTH CARE AVAILABLE!!!!!!!!
Ever notice how poor people have bad teeth, but can get prenatal and child health care? That would be the evil government run health care.

[zest]

So this senator represents the health insurance corporations in his state and not the citizens.

[zest]

SINGLE PAYER FOR ALL NOW.

[VivaZapata]

Healthcare is in crisis; those blocking a single taxpayer health plan ought to voluntarily give up their own, provided for by us. then they ought to be forced to publicize how much medical-industry-related companies fill their coffers. This is a no brainer.

[PhilipTaylor]

Baucus should not be HEADING this Committee due to conflict of interests!

He gets $6,260,466 from Health Care Related Sources Ranking -- 4th among All Senators!

or almost 20% of his campaign Contributions from Health Care!

His Biggest Donor List includes Lots of Health Care/Insurance Related Concerns:

American International Group $91,000
New York Life Insurance $87,425
Schering-Plough Corp $75,200
Blue Cross/Blue Shield $64,699
Amgen Inc $50,750
Aetna Inc $50,250
DaVita Inc $49,350

He clearly wants the status quo with his $6 Million in Funding!

That is why he refuses to put Single-Payer representatives on the Committee!
___________________________________

Expand Medicare to everyone! Medicare has 2% Admin Fee versus 30% with Insurance Companies!

Let people buy supplemental if they want it for extra coverage!

This is NOT complicated!

[PhilipTaylor]

Ben Nelson gets $1,843,332 from Health Care Related Sources for his campaign.

That is about 12% of his total campaign contributions.

Ben Nelson's Biggest Donors - Insurance:

1 Berkshire Hathaway $65,800
5 Blue Cross/Blue Shield $31,400
6 Prudential Financial $30,500
8 PMA Group $28,350
10 Mutual of Omaha $25,550

[rain33]

thats a damn shame! son of a bitch!..traditor to his voters while looking out for himself! it's time to exposed him as well others who are trying to defuse obama's agenda because some of the moderate democrats are looking out for the corporations not voters!

[PhilipTaylor]

Expand Medicare to everyone! Medicare has 2% Admin Fee versus 30% with Insurance Companies!

Let people buy supplemental if they want it for extra coverage!

This is NOT complicated!

[beerguy]

Yes and it's going broke

[TexMex69]

It's going broke because it's been plundered for the last 8 years..

[Cosmic-Zantor]

Healthcare is a right, not a privilege. Most of civilization has realized this already. As has been the case for a long time, the US is behind the curve. Hopefully under Obama we can catch up.

[beerguy]

Show me where it is a right in the constitution

[Justice Wainwright]

There are a lot of rights that are not in the constitution. The right to clean air, clean water, safe streets, shelter, education, freedom to marry those whom you choose.. the list goes on.

That anyone would think a CIVILIZED nation should not be expected to provide BASIC coverage for ALL its citizens is the real joke.

The world of human rights did not start with the constitution, nor did it end with it. Its is merely a chapter in a very long, unending book. I suggest you flip to the next page with the rest of us.

[Patriot86]

Slavery was still legal when the constitution was written...I believe any modern society must have health care for its citizens.

[jelly450]

There you go again! Gawd you are such a rightwing parrot

[jwredd]

Dude, at the time the constitution was written the doctors would have you chew on a stick while they hacked off your arm. Saying "Show me where it is a right in the constitution" is like saying the founding fathers didn't acknowledge global warming so we don't need to talk about it. This is 2009 and we have a whole set of new problems that weren't conceivable in the 1700s. Bad rational, my friend.

[ConservMom]

I don't know how you libs can live with yourselves anyway. Saving some fish and giving the farmers no water here in California is sick! You destroy farms, people are in food lines by the 10's of thousands... for a fish that has plenty of water and it could be spared for the farmers... so misguided!

[Shzron1946]

we are talking people, here.

[SouthernLiberal101]

WOW, ConservMom is upset about farmers? How does that relate to healthcare? But just so we are clear, farmers get huge government subsidies. They are essentially on welfare. I did not realize that conservatives now supported welfare. Go Figure.

[reno1190]

"PEOPLE ARE IN FOOD LINES BY THE 10'S OF THOUSANDS" AND WHAT PREZ DID THIS TAKE PLACE UNDER ITS YOU RETHUGS THAT ARE MIS-GUIDED TAKE IRAQ FOR INSTANCE 12 BILLION A MONTH FOR PEOPLE WHO DID NOT ATTACK US ,CONSERV MOM PUT DOWN THE KOOL-AID.

[beerguy]

Yes, but we freed them from tyranny. To bad this administration is taking us toward tyranny.

[lylo]

And I can't believe you sick, self centered Cali farmers!

There are thousands of OR fisherman who's lives are based on those fish. Plenty of water? Try enough water to survive and reproduce, which, incidentily, they were denied in the early 2000s, and their populations still haven't recovered. Guess what happened to the fishermen.

[jwredd]

Conservmom- we're not short on water because of fish, we're short on water because of PEOPLE. That's you, me and everybody else, so we're going to have to make some hard choices on where our limited water resources get used. Try and keep up in a constructive way rather that blurting out asinine comments that do nothing but tell everyone how extreme hard right you are.

[marinade]

If the Congress fails to deliver a decent public option, it will be interesting to see what kind of backlash they get from the American people. This might be a tipping point.

The progressive organizations seem to be gearing up for a fight.

[DannyGuam]

"Social Security though in dire need of update"

Bullshit.

[Mikeeee]

If nelson has public health care (he does, paid for by every citizen of the US), how can he justify blocking it for everyone else?
I want him to explain to the 48 million who have no health insurance (who are taxed to pay for his public health care) why he should continue to receive it.
I'd like to see him answer that on the Today show.