Holiday News| More...
 

Ben Nelson

Getting Real: Ten Assumptions Behind Progressive Support for the Senate Health Bill

Richard (RJ) Eskow | Posted 12.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Nate Silver, Ben Nelson, Kevin Drum, Ezra Klein, Cadillac Tax, Barack Obama, Harry Reid, Joe Lieberman, Excise Tax, Health Reform, Senate Health Bill, Politics News
Richard (RJ) Eskow

Some of the current bill's provisions are going to hurt the Democrats and will probably cost them seats unless they're removed. How can a smaller group of Democrats do what a bigger group could not?

Read Post

Why We Lost Healthcare

John Neffinger | Posted 12.16.2009 | Politics

Read More: Joe Lieberman, Ben Nelson, MoveOn.Org, Healthcare, Barack Obama, Progressives, Fdr, Politics News
John Neffinger

For Obama to do his job, he needs progressives to do theirs: let progressives fight on the left flank to make room for the President to steer a middle course. Otherwise the "centrists" will always win.

Read Post

Reid Readying Full Manager's Amendment; Details Secret Until Friday

M.S. Bellows, Jr. | Posted 12.10.2009 | Politics

Read More: Tom Coburn, Cloture, Public Option, Harry Reid, Health Care, Manager's Amendment, Barack Obama, Healthcare, Senate, Ben Nelson, Politics News
M.S. Bellows, Jr.

Reid's plan to incorporate the new compromise into the final Manager's Amendment before releasing any of its details may suggest that he is planning to offer sweeping substantive changes to the current health care bill.

Read Post

Ryan Grim

Outline Of Senate Health Bill Agreement Emerging

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 12.09.2009 | Politics

Read More: #Hcr, Trigger, Cbo, Medicare Part D, Public Option, Senate Bill, Medicare Buy-In, Harry Reid, Cbo Score, Maria Cantwell, Health Care Reform, Senate Health Bill, Ben Nelson, Jeff Merkley, Medicare, Office of Personnel Management, Health Care, Politics News

Senate Democrats emerged from a caucus-wide meeting Wednesday evening tight-lipped about the elements of the "broad agreement" that has been reached o...

Read Whole Story

Ryan Grim

Breakthrough: Health Care Talks Advance In Senate

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 12.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Abortion, Senate Abortion, Ben Nelson, Senate Abortion Amendment, Health Care, Health Care Abortion, Nelson Amendment, Politics News

Senate negotiators emerged from a full day of meetings Tuesday saying they had made genuine progress toward a deal on health care reform. They declin...

Read Whole Story

Senate Rejects Abortion Restrictions 54 To 45

AP | Posted 12.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Abortion, Senate Rejects Abortion Amendment, Senate Abortion, Senate Abortion Amendment, Senate Abortion Vote, Senate and Abortion, Ben Nelson, Senate on Abortion, Abortion Amendment, Nelson Amendment, Politics News

WASHINGTON — The Senate has rejected an effort to stiffen abortion restrictions in the health care bill. The vote was 54 to 45....

Read Whole Story

Ben Nelson Introduces New Anti-Abortion Amendment To Senate Health Care Bill

AP | DAVID ESPO | Posted 12.08.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Bill, Anti-Abortion Amendment, Ben Nelson, Private Insurance Abortions, Olympia Snowe, Health Care Reform, Anti-Abortion, Harry Reid, Abortion Coverage, Federal Abortion Coverage, Abortion Health Care, Health Care, Stupak Amendment, Anti-Choice, Politics News

WASHINGTON — With time growing short, Senate Democratic liberals are seeking expansion of two large federal programs, Medicare and Medicaid, as ...

Read Whole Story

The Heart of the Health Care Debate on Abortion

Ellen Malcolm | Posted 12.07.2009 | Politics

Read More: Abortion, Women, Ben Nelson, Womens Rights, Emilys List, Health Care Reform, Stupak Amendment, Reproductive Health, Orrin Hatch, Politics News
Ellen Malcolm

This historic health care plan designed to improve Americans' lives and make them healthier and safer could, for women facing an unintended or dangerous pregnancy, deny them access to the care they need.

Read Post

Ryan Grim

Snowe Rejoins Dems At Public Option Negotiating Table

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 12.06.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Bill, #Hcr, Olympia Snowe, Gang of 6, Trigger, John Kerry, Mark Pryor, Senate, Mark Udall, Public Option, Health Care Reform, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Blue Dog Democrats, Politics News

In a breakthough in Senate negotiations around a public health insurance option, Sen. Olympia Snowe (R-Maine) sat down with centrist conservative Demo...

Read Whole Story

Roy Sekoff Talks To Ed Show's Ed Schultz About The Latest Example Of Why We Need a Public Option

Huff TV | Posted 12.04.2009 | Media

Read More: Lieberman, Public Option, Nelson, Lincoln, Blanche Linconl, Health Care Reform, Ed Show, Ben Nelson, Joe Lieberman, Aetna, The Ed Show, Health Care, Senate, Media News
Huff TV

Health insurance giant Aetna is planning to force up to 650,000 clients to drop their coverage in 2010 as the company seeks to meet profit expectation...

Read Post

Nelson Amendment Expected To Fall Short Even With GOP Support

The Hill | Posted 12.04.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ben Nelson Amendment, Ben Nelson, Ben Nelson Abortion Amendment, Health Care, Nelson Filibuster, Nelson Health Care, Healthcare, Ben Nelson Abortion, Nelson Amendment, Politics News

An amendment restricting abortions does not appear to have enough support to be attached to the Senate healthcare bill. Senate Republican Whip Jon ...

Read Whole Story

Ed Schultz Spars With Sen. Barbara Boxer Over Senate Health Care Bill

Posted 12.03.2009 | Media

Read More: Health Care Bill, Progressives, Ed Schultz, Joe Lieberman, Sen. Barbara Boxer, Senate, Lieberman, Barbara Boxer, White House, Barack Obama, Health Care Reform, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care, Media News

The Ed Show's Ed Schultz let it all out Wednesday evening and expressed the frustration that many progressives feel about attempts by Democrats to wat...

Read Whole Story

Waffling Democrats' Health Care Hypocrisy

Peter Dreier | Posted 12.02.2009 | Politics

Read More: Veterans Health Administraiton, Ben Nelson, Public Option, Va, Mary Landrieu, Health Insurance Lobby, Socialized Medicine, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care Reform, Veterans Administration, Max Baucus, Joe Lieberman, American Medical Association, Medicare, Kent Conrad, Health Care, Campaign Contributions, Politics News
Peter Dreier

After years of feeding at the health insurance industry trough, it's no wonder these conservative Democratic senators oppose a public option plan to compete for consumers.

Read Post

Ryan Grim

Insurance Industry Antitrust Fight Headed To Conference Committee

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.24.2009 | Politics

Read More: Insurance Industry, Health Care Reform, Antitrust, Antitrust Exemption, Nelson Antitrust Exemption, Insurance Anti-Trust, Ben Nelson, Pelosi Antitrust, Ahip, American's Health Insurance Plans, McCarran Ferguson, Politics News

The insurance industry successfully fought off a Senate threat to revoke its antitrust exemption as part of health care reform, but the issue lives to...

Read Whole Story

Senate Sextet

Shawn Healy | Posted 11.23.2009 | Politics

Read More: Susan Collins, Blanche Lincoln, Ben Nelson, Pivotal Politics, Olympia Snowe, Health Care Reform, Filibuster, Harry Reid, Joe Lieberman, Mary Landrieu, Politics News
Shawn Healy

By my calculation, Senator Reid can count on 56 votes for the health care legislation as it now stands. Any attrition from this group would require Reid to reach across the aisle to recruit one or more moderate Republicans.

Read Post

Ben Nelson: I Might Not Back Health Care Bill In Next Step

AP | Posted 11.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Senate Health Care Vote, Nelson, Nelson Health Care Vote, Ben Nelson Health Care, Health Care Vote, Ben Nelson, Health Care, Nelson Filibuster, Healthcare, Politics News

WASHINGTON — A moderate Democratic senator who voted to allow debate over a health care bill says he might not support the bill in its next hurd...

Read Whole Story

Ryan Grim

Sealed With A Kiss: Dems Unite To Beat GOP Filibuster

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.22.2009 | Politics

Read More: Chuck Schumer, #Hcr, Health Care Bill, Senate Health Care Bill Vote, Arlen Specter, Landrieu, Robert Byrd, Mary Landrieu, Joe Lieberman, Democrats, Reid, Senate Health Care Debate, Dems, Harry Reid, Senate, Victoria Reggie Kennedy, Health Care Reform, Gop, Ben Nelson, Chris Dodd, Vickie Kennedy, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care, Roland Burris, John McCain, Republicans, Politics News

Harry Reid sealed the biggest legislative victory of his career Saturday night with a kiss. And then a hug. Emotionally reserved doesn't begin to des...

Read Whole Story

Ryan Grim

Democrats Are United -- For Now

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.21.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Bill, Senate Health Care Bill, Mary Landrieu, Filibuster, Obama, Joe Lieberman, Democrats, House, Senate Health Care Debate, Harry Reid, Senate, Insurance Industry, White House, Barack Obama, Insurers, Health Insurance, Health Care Reform, Gop, Ben Nelson, Health Care, Republicans, Politics News

The Senate has voted to move forward with the health care bill. The vote was 60-39 in favor of debating the bill put forward by Senate Majority Leader...

Read Whole Story

Ryan Grim

Ben Nelson To Vote Yes Saturday: Two Dems Remain Uncommitted

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Reform, Nelson Cloture, Ben Nelson Health Care Reform, Ben Nelson, Health Care Reform Cloture, Politics News

And then there were two. Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) announced Friday for the first time that he will vote to allow the Democratic health care reform b...

Read Whole Story

Sam Stein

Health Care Reform Closing Arguments: White House, Activists, Labor Unions Eye The Finish Line

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 11.20.2009 | Politics

Read More: Olympia Snowe, Activist Groups, Labor Unions, Hcan, Health Care Reform, Ben Nelson, Reform Activists, White House Blog, Blanche Lincoln, Reform Legislation, Politics News

With the Senate poised to cast historic votes on health care legislation, a host of activist groups, labor unions, and even the White House itself lau...

Read Whole Story

Obama Gets 11-Dimensional Chess Win; Epic Fail for Media, GOP

Matt Osborne | Posted 11.20.2009 | Media

Read More: Senator Harry Reid, Blue Dogs Public Option, Ben Nelson, Obama Blue Dogs, Public Option, Ben Nelson Health Care, President Barack Obama, President Obama, Ben Nelson Health Care Reform, Ben Nelson Reconciliation, Obama, Blue Dogs Health Care Reform, Blue Dogs Health Care, Barack Obama, Consensus-Building, Ben Nelson Nebraska, Consensus Building, Consensus, 11-Dimensional Chess, Health Care Reform, Democrats Public Option, Blue Dogs, Harry Reid, Joe Lieberman, Healthcare Reform, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, Health Care Public Option, Harry Reid Public Option, Obama Public Option, Media News
Matt Osborne

The Republican strategy of delay escalated their misfortune; their "tea party" movement is a great, big Teabagger Fail, and the media's credibility is shot right along with them.

Read Post

Ryan Grim

Senate Dems Close In On Reform: Details Of Health Care Bill Revealed

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.19.2009 | Politics

Read More: Health Care Bill, Abortion, White House, Ben Nelson, Cbo, Landrieu, Cloture, Public Option, Health Care Costs, Senate Health Care Bill, President Obama, Obama, Senate Health Care Reform Bill, Mary Landrieu, House, Cbo Score, Deficit, Senate, Blanche Lincoln, Uninsured, Senate Public Option, Lincoln, Nelson, Details, Health Care Reform, Stupak Amendment, Harry Reid, How Many Would Be Covered, Senate Health Care, Text of Bill, Senate Health Bill Online, Senate Health Bill Text, Politics News

Read the bill (PDF). Senate Democrats have posted the legislation on their web site. --------- Senate Democrats made a big step toward comprehensive...

Read Whole Story

Sam Stein

Nelson: I'm Comfortable Being Lone Democrat To Derail Reform

HuffingtonPost.com | Sam Stein | Posted 11.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Nelson Cloutre, Health Care Reform, Nelson Cloture Vote, Ben Nelson, Senator Reid Health Care, Nelson Health Care, Nelson Reform, Health Care, Politics News

Ben Nelson, a key conservative Senate Democrats, said on Wednesday that he was pleased with the changes party leadership had made to health care legis...

Read Whole Story

The Three Democrats Who Could Block Health Care Reform

New York Times | CARL HULSE | Posted 11.18.2009 | Politics

Read More: Senate Health Care Bill Delay, Democrats Senate Health Care Bill, Senate Health Care Bill, Mary Landrieu, Ben Nelson, Blanche Lincoln, Health Care, Healthcare, Politics News

Senator Ben Nelson, Democrat of Nebraska, says he is not sure he is ready to help a Democratic health care proposal clear even the most preliminary hu...

Read Whole Story

Ryan Grim

Nelson On Board For Second Round Of Spending

HuffingtonPost.com | Ryan Grim | Posted 11.17.2009 | Politics

Read More: Ben Nelson Obama, Ben Nelson Stimulus, Ben Nelson, Ben Nelson Jobs, Stimulus, Second Stimulus, Politics News

Throughout last winter, Sen. Ben Nelson, the Nebraska Democrat, was trailed through the Capitol by reporters curious where he stood on the amount of s...

Read Whole Story