Nelson: We're Making Progress, But No Surefire Agreement

[jefferson_dem]

Nelson: We're Making Progress, But No Surefire Agreement
Brian Beutler | December 18, 2009, 2:38PM

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid huddled behind closed doors this afternoon with Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE)--a pro-life, conservative Democrat, and one of the last remaining holdouts in the caucus on health care reform.

Emerging from the meeting, Nelson told reporters that he and leadership are closing in on an agreement that will secure his much-needed support for the legislation, but they're not there yet.

"Hopefully we're making progress," Nelson said. "As I said, there's always a lot of room which you have to have between the bid and the ask, and we're seeing if we can close the gap."

Asked whether a resolution was likely today or tomorrow, Nelson offered little clarity: "I don't know. I can't predict the time."

Once Reid has rounded up 60 votes, he's expected to unveil his manager's amendment and file for cloture on it, and the underlying legislation. He's like to do that tomorrow morning, but if Nelson's not on board, he may have to wait. And, of course, the Democrats' self-imposed Christmas Eve deadline for passing reform is at stake.

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/nelson-were-making-progress-but-no-surefire-agreement.php?ref=fpa

[Skittles]

1. gawd I detest the term "pro-life"

they are nothing of the sort :puke:

[atreides1]

3. The Dalai Lama

Is pro-life, Ben Nelson is anti-abortion!!!

[atreides1]

2. Looks Like Nelson will get what he wants

This is a great bill! Lieberman got what he wanted, the drug companies got what they wanted, and now it looks like Nelson will get what he wants.

[Jersey Devil]

4. According to FDL Nelson wants a lot more than abortion language

I haven't seen this anywhere else, but Firedog Lake is saying he wants the Medicaid provisions out of HCR as well. It that is true then maybe Dean was right.

The White House and Harry Reid are preparing to give Ben Nelson anything he wants in exchange for his vote. It appears that this anything could be a gutting of the single best remaining piece of reform, Medicaid expansion:

Earlier Thursday, in an interview with a Nebraska radio station, Nelson said even if the abortion issue were resolved, he still could not support the $848 billion package, complaining that the plan to cover more than 30 million additional Americans calls for dramatically expanding Medicaid, which is partially funded by the states. The Medicaid expansion would “create an underfunded federal mandate for the state of Nebraska,” Nelson said, arguing that states should be permitted to “opt out” of that idea and find other ways to offer coverage to their poorest residents.

More - http://fdlaction.firedoglake.com/2009/12/18/ben-nelson-wants-to-cripple-the-best-remaining-part-of-reform-medicaid-expansion/

[Laelth]

5. Thanks for that link and your synopsis.

Dean was right. Kill the bill.

:dem:

Laelth