I knew this was coming. Ben Nelson has reached an agreement on the Senate Health Care reform bill and will vote for cloture. Basically, like Senator Mary Landrieu, Nelson was bought off.
From The Washington Post, we learn what Nelson’s price was:
Under the new abortion provisions, states can opt out of allowing plans to cover abortion in the new insurance exchanges the bill would set up, to serve individuals who lack coverage through their jobs. Plus, enrollees in plans that do cover abortion procedures would pay for the coverage with separate checks -- one for abortion, one for the rest of any health-care services.
Nelson secured full federal funding for his state to expand Medicaid coverage to all individuals below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. Other states must pay a small portion of the additional cost. He won concessions for qualifying nonprofit insurers and for Medigap providers from a new insurance tax, and was able to roll back cuts to health savings accounts.
So Nelson’s price was an agreement that allows him to look like he is supporting a tougher abortion ban (it’s not, see Hot Air for details) and the nation picking up part of Nebraska’s Medicaid costs.
Nelson is a bigger fool than I ever imagined. If Nelson thinks any of this will remain once the House and Senate meet to hammer out a combined bill, then he is an ass. For final passage Reid only needs 51 votes (Reconciliation). If Reid is half the weasel I think he is, he as already worked out the proper combination of senators who will give him those 51 votes. It is those 51 senator’s reservations that Reid will use to negotiate with the House. Landrieu, Lieberman and Nelson’s deals will be tossed to the wayside.
Via: Memeorandum
Via: The Washington Post
Via: Hot Air
Via: Talking Points Memo
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3 comments:
Only an act of God can save us now, and I'm feeling the same as you are this morning. I'm thinking in words I never thought I'd say. A Seething American
PS: I read your blog daily! You're one of my heros. Thanks
VT:
I read on another blog where some said, for the first time in their adult like they are NOT proud to be an American. Sadly I am beginning to feel the same way.
Clifton: MY country died long before I was even born, but we had some semblance of it left until about, oh, 1967 or 1968.
I am profoundly saddened by this turn of events. My mother, bless her, is still a Rooseveltian Democrat, and is all excited. I brought her down off that cloud when I asked her to picture her grand-niece, 24 or 25 years from now, about to give birth. The niece is in a hospital corridor, laying on a gurney, in labor, but ther is no room for her. An illegal has her room already. Or the hospital is just plain so crowded that no one at all is being admitted.
"Oh, that can't happen!" with a swish of her hand. But I KNOW she knows I am right.
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