Nebraska Dems Put Nelson On The Spot On Public Option

The Nebraska Democratic Party put the state's senior senator, Ben Nelson, in an awkward spot on Saturday by passing a resolution making support for a government-run insurance option a central aspect of its platform.

In a nearly unanimous vote at a committee meeting in Fort Omaha Metro Community College, about 70 attendees approved language that urges members of Congress "to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform."

Nelson remains one of the highest-profiled U.S. Senate Democratic holdouts on the public plan, even recently declining to commit to voting against a Republican filibuster of legislation that included the provision.

Officials at the Nebraska Democratic Party said the committee vote was not meant as a rebuke of the senator, who has historically taken a conservative approach to public policy issues. More an encouragement to all Democratic state legislators.

"Let's put it this way," said Vic Covalt, State Chair of the state party. "The Nebraska Democratic Party is a big tent party and Ben Nelson is a good Democrat. We believe he will represent us well.

"Sen. Nelson represents the entire state of Nebraska and he is going to do the best he can to do," he added. "The Nebraska Democratic Party is obviously a little bit to the pro-public option side of Ben. Though I'm not sure because I'm not sure where he is at."

Only one of the committee members opposed the resolution, which accuses the "healthcare insurance industry and their allies" of organizing and funding efforts to kill the public plan or pass compromise health care reform. And the Nebraska Democratic Party deliberately put into the final language a pledge to "send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members."

"[The provision] is popular with the Democrats in the state because we believe without it the bill could too easily become a welfare program for the insurance industry," said Covalt. The argument supporters made was that without the public plan, "basically we end up subsidizing insurance companies and hurting taxpayers who don't have coverage."

BELOW IS A COPY OF THE RESOLUTION:

WHEREAS, the heath care system of the United States is in crisis, with almost fifty million Americans lacking any health insurance, tens of millions more lacking adequate coverage, and millions more who do have private coverage paying increasingly unaffordable premiums, resulting in inadequate access to care and premature death, illness, or financial ruin for millions of Americans; and

WHEREAS, public polls show that a majority of Americans want health care reform to offer the choice of a robust public option in order to inject real competition into the marketplace and, in the words of President Obama, "keep the insurance companies honest:" and

WHEREAS, some in the healthcare insurance industry and their allies have organized and funded groups of extremists to disrupt efforts on the part of the majority and administration to discuss the issue with the American people reasonably, and have demonstrated an unwillingness to compromise in any way to pass meaningful health care reform;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party urge our members of Congress to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform;

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the Nebraska Democratic Party shall send a copy of this resolution to all members of Congress who represent any of our members.

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Comments

[mancoff]

Hey Nebraska, you can show the country that you are better than your politicians and you intend to do something about it. The rest of us out here who are suffering, because of power hungry politicians who could care less about real people and real life and death issues, would like to see you show some courage and stand up for better health care for every one in this nation regardless of party affiliation. Speak Out, Nebraska, Loud and Clear......to paraphrase Dorothy, "it's not just about Kansas, anymore, Toto".

[stereolabb]

Nelson looks like a used car salesman with a bad haircut.

[independentcynic1228]

Most of you obviously have no understanding of Nebraska politics if you think Nebraska's dem party could actually put someone out there and win against Nelson or any Republican contender. This state is about as conservative as it can get, and the only area the dems have any inkling of power is in the Omaha-Lincoln area, and even in those cities, the areas that could be called blue are not very large. In the Omaha metro, the only area that is even remotely democrat is north omaha, which is mostly made up of low income and public housing projects. Outside of that, this metro area is predominantly republican. And also, the democrat mayor of Omaha, the man is not helping the democrat cause. He's angering just about everyone around, republican, democrat, liberal, conservative. He pays his staff twice what his predecessor did, he rides around in a 35,000 dollar SUV he had the city buy while the police ride around in old, beat up cruisers. Not real good for the public image.
Personally, for the democrats to have any chance of gaining any ground in Nebraska, they are going to have to wait for Suttle to leave office. He's hurt the democrat party in this state.

[omahadave]

That would be the "Democractic" party. Sorry to correct you, you're probably not really that dumb.

[frankath]

I've written Sen. Nelson several times, with canned staff response in return, saying bascially this:

Don't weasel out on us, Ben! We NEBRASKA Dems have stood UP for you for 2 terms as governor and 2 as senator. What have the Reps done for you lately, except call you names? You were one of the first Nebraska politicians to strongly back Obama - you knew full well what he intended to do in healthcare and threw your full support to him. How can you NOW, oppose him on his KEY part of his campaign? It makes absolutely NO sense and makes you look like an political opportunist, rather than a man of principle, which most of us assumed that you were. Don't throw us under a bus, Ben. Stand up for what you once said you believed. Elections are NOT everything, plus you have a few years before you face it. Those of us in the MIGHTY Blue Dot District 2 will do all in our power to make sure that you are successful. Stick with us, Ben, like we've stuck with you!

[BLUEBIRD1234]

It is quite evident from the article and the commenter comments that I went through, shows a robust joining of the public with the Nebraska "to vote for such health care reform proposals that contain a robust public option at all stages of the legislative process including conference and reconciliation, and encourage legislators to pass such reform." I think when public wants to move with an agenda for there own good and their own decision the best is to follow the decision of the mass if there is no other catastrophic hazard in following the desire of the public.

I would think why not give a try with the desire expressed in Nebraska and voted to pass the health care proposal with almost overall unanimous vote and is expected to be followed by Montana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Delaware and Indiana and may be by the final day the entire country come as one and vote in favor to pass the Health Care bill and prove that the President Obama has always done what is the best for the American Nation not only in words but also in deeds.

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/nebraska-dems-put-nelson_n_310310.html

Read more at: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/05/nebraska-dems-put-nelson_n_310310.html

[chewie2008]

Liebermann seems so happy.

[hollybork]

Excellent. Now if we could get the democratic party in Montana, Arkansas, Louisiana, Delaware and Indiana to do the same thing, we may have a chance to convince the Blue Dogs who potentially will vote with Republicans to block healthcare reform in the Senate. This is very good news. Thanks to the Democratic party leaders in Nebraska. They have guts!

[treetracker]

Montana has already done this. AR, LA, DE and IN are yet to weigh in. Let's hope they do.

MT sent Baucus his notice not long after Obama visited their state. Doesn't appear to have done much good, however, since Baucus is among those getting paid the highest dollars for whoring himself out.

[Terriac]

I live in Nebraska and I applaud the Nebraska Democrat Party's actions here. I am sick to death of Ben Nelson, who may as well be a Republican for all the good he does the party.

[bknott]

Nebraska Democrats know Nelson for the anti-choice, pro-lobbyist DINO he is. What a jerk. Unfortunately, an actual Democrat doesn't stand much of a chance.

[omahadave]

But how would we know? We need to run a real Democrat some time to find out. We take it on faith that a real Democrat can't win. Who says? Republican policies are such assaults on the average person I don't accept that a Democrat who gets his message out can't win.

[AirForce Vet]

Putting Ben Nelson on the spot isn’t the only place they should have put him. Say what you mean and mean what you say. A Repugnican in Democrat’s clothing will not do. The problem that bothers me the most is many Democrats seem to become passive and spineless after a while. Talking is mere words; let’s see some positive legislation for the people of this nation.

Ben Nelson, Max Baucus and others are essentially a lost cause. You get nothing done with them, so why do we need them. If you considering 60 votes, that doesn’t matter, since we have that and little gets done.

[vetseabee]

It was great to see the democratic party leaders of Nebraska put Sen Nelson on notice.All the other so called democrats feet should also be held to the fire.Sen Nelson received from the healthcare industry $ 2,214,715 american dollars.Will this influence his vote?Max Baucus received $3,973,485 American dollars from the same healthcare industry.Is this why he came up with such a horrible bill that favors the healthcare industry?We have become a one party system that is totally controlled by the enormous amount of money corporations are ready willing and able to throw at any cause they support and will benefit their bottom line.Until we the people wake up and vote these scoundrels out of office instead of simply voting without thoroughly checking how our particular representative voted for the best interests of all Americans and not the best interests of their particular party we will continue to have poor representation and terrible legislation.

[dans5843]

He better shape up for else!

[SFBunkSurf]

Any pressure they can add to this issue is great. He needs to feel the heat of his party and his constituents.

[comicpro]

Hey Nebraska this may come as a stunning revelation but you can vote this guy out if you want to. just thought I would add that in there.

[Guitar63]

Under Pressure

~David Bowie

[sktlah]

painful as it is to say, Nelson is probably the most "liberal" Democrat who could get elected in this state. He's an embarrassment, but having spent 35 years living here, I think most of us are just grateful that it's him and not someone worse.
I'll never defend him, and I'll never forgive Bob Kerrey for quitting on us.
But "thanks" for your stunning revelation. Try living here first before you assume we're all stupid.

[comicpro]

That is an assumption you made and partner I used to be a flight engineer in the Air Force so I know all about Nebraska (Offutt AFB). I myself had a blast in Nebraska with some of the most laid back people who were nice as hell to me. That being said its a cop out to say you can't get rid of Nelson. Not by yourself anyway but in masse people are hurting and Nebraska is no different. I say get his sorry carcass out of office and after 35 years you trying to tell me you are happy with the status quo????

[polishlogician]

I'd forgive Bob Kerrey in a heartbeat...and maybe we could unearth Zorinsky....

[ILibertine]

Nebraska's only electoral vote came from the congressional district including Omaha, whereas the balance of the state went Republican in 2008. Thus a Democrat relying on statewide votes has to maintain considerable "conservative" image for the appeal of virtually the balance of the state to retain office - so traditional logic might suggest.

Yet within the more "liberal" 2nd Dist. a vast healthcare industry is surely flowing money to influence votes.

2012 is far down the road with regard to the economic situation and which party earns the image of culpability for what may be a lingering, or worse situation. Yet the culpability (this repression or whatever you care to call it has happened in a different presidential cycle) may be differently assessed and, as some note, is a matter for both parties to share.

The issue is not liberal vs. conservative or Democrat vs. Republican, but more accurately corporate interest and super rich vs. everyone else and relative well-being. Until the electorate gets this through their heads we are at the mercy of this endless finagling between bogus standards (of course the problems with financial influence are much more complex).

It is good that the state party has defined its persuasions as such with respect to a robust option. Now Nelson can represent us or feel the consequences. Perhaps he might be wise enough to understand even many so-called conservatives are benefactors in this option.

[ferguskhan]

Yes, Ben Nelson really supports the best interests of Nebraska. Except for when it conflicts with his own best interests.

[msgirlintn]

if he continues to act more like a Repub than a Dem, I hope the good people of Nebraska will vote him out of office and show him they mean business. Is the Dem Party in Nebraska running a primary challenge against him?

[Icemaan]

Has the Post Office(public option government run) hurt Fedx,UPS,etc(not government run)? No it just gives more options and competition.