Nelson: Health bill to stand ‘test of time' as historic reform

[Omaha Steve]

Source: Omaha World Herald

By Joseph Morton

WASHINGTON — Ben Nelson has spent his life negotiating big deals, but never one this big.

The eyes of the nation were fixed on the Nebraska Democrat as he held in his hands the fate of President Barack Obama's top domestic priority — a massive health care system overhaul.

Would he agree to cast the deciding vote to push the bill through the Senate? Or would he send everyone home for Christmas, with nothing to show for many months of legislative wrangling?

For 13 hours Friday, Nelson battled for final concessions in the office of Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid.



Read more: http://www.omaha.com/article/20091220/NEWS01/712209918

---

The full story of how Senator Nelson decided to be the 60th yes in the story.

NOW & Labor are the next step to hurdle.

[Laelth]

1. Oh, it's historic, all right. But I have no interest in making BAD history.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[rasputin1952]

6. What is the result to "killing the Bill"?

The only viable alternative is nothing, something that will leave everything as it is now... people dying, more children ill from preventable/treatable disease.

Pass this thing, then amend it later...or people face little more than more of the same.

edited...error in Subject line.

[Laelth]

8. They promised us they would "fix" NAFTA, and nothing ever came of that.

The status quo is better because it will ALLOW for states to address this issue themselves. Passing the bill will prevent state action on this issue. California will probably pass single payer on its own in 2011. All they need is a Democratic Governor. The legislature has already passed the bill. Schwarzenegger vetoed it. Once California has single-payer, most (if not all) states will follow suit.

It's likely that if we pass a new law now, the new law will preempt single-payer, i.e. the Federal law will preempt state law and prevent states from enacting a single-payer system.

THIS is what the health insurance companies fear. THIS is what brought them to the bargaining table. THIS is why they are not fighting Obama's tepid reforms, and THIS is why it is extremely important that we do not pass any health insurance reform bill this year.

Let's not settle for a bail-out of the health insurance industry. Let's insist on the eradication of it. In all likelihood, California will lead the way in 2011 ... if we can just give them time.

Canada got its single-payer system one province at a time, and it looks like that's the only way it can happen in the United States.

I don't think the Federal Government is capable of reforming the system right now. If this bill is the best the Federal Government can do, then the Federal Government should do nothing. It's time to let the states try.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[rasputin1952]

9. There are still 3 years left for the current adminstration...

we do not know what is coming in the future.

Priorities have been set, they may change, but this administration has a LOT to fix.

I won't stand with them in blind obedience, but as long as i see forward movement, I'll back them.

[Laelth]

11. That is certainly your prerogative.

And I would love to back them, but I will not back them when they advance a bill that will be a disaster for the Democratic Party and that will hurt more people than it helps while enriching and strengthening the health insurance cabal.

Polls show a majority of Americans oppose the individual mandate. This is a terrible piece of legislation, and the Democratic Party will (rightly) be punished for it by the electorate if it passes.

Feel free to respond to the actual argument I made in my preceding post at your leisure.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[rasputin1952]

13. We all know this is not the best they can do...

but it's a start.

Killing it, will do nothing but preserve the status quo. More people will die, more illness will have to be borne.

No one knows what will come out of conference between the 2 Houses. But regardless, it will be a step forward, not standing still, and certainly not a step backward.

As I've stated time and again, it is far easier to amend a law than to enact one. To just kill this would be a disaster, and subjugate us to GOP rule by fiat...I cannot stand for that.

[Laelth]

14. Passing this bill locks us into the status quo.

That, it seems, is the substantive difference you and I have. You see this as incremental progress. That's not a bad thing. I see this as preserving the status quo and preventing substantive change.

Only time will tell which of us is right about that.

Kill the bill.

Forcing people to buy insurance is no more the answer to a failed health care system than forcing people to buy houses is the solution to homelessness.

:dem:

-Laelth

[CANDO]

23. I agree with your perspective.

But I also think it won't be a bad thing for the current Corporate Democratic Party to go to the dust bin of history. Let it die and then we can rebuild it the right way, catering to the interests of the little guy. While I hate the right wing Republicans and their agenda with every fiber of my being, I am confidant once they regain power they will in no time churn the stomach of little people America. Just watching them pray to Jesus to kill health care is all I need to be comfortable with my assessment.

[mbperrin]

19. They also said the Patriot Act was temporary. Lied again.

Nothing more permanent than laws in the code. There are still laws against taking baths on the second floor of hotels on Saturday night in Texas, just as one example.

I want single payer universal, and no version of required purchase of coverage is going to get there. You cannot get to LA from NY on foot by heading east.

Yes, kill the bill.

[dave29]

22. There was also this whole Republican administration in the interem for 8 years

perhaps that fell off your radar.

[Iowa]

29. Actually, it has been 9 years (and counting). Perhaps that fell off your radar.

Brand names don't mean squat anymore.

[iamjoy]

2. Oh, It's Historic Alright...

a turning point, too.

I'm just not sure it's for the better. It's a nasty piece of sausage. But some are hungry enough to eat it anyway.

[ixion]

3. yeah, historic, like a catastrophe

this will go down in history as the thing that cost the dems their majority.

[hayu_lol]

4. Nothing historic about Ben Nelson...

he is just another paid corporate shill. Another DINO in the wrong party. Puffs and pants just as so many others have done and needs to be retired as quickly as possible.

[Vinca]

5. I've got a suggestion for more "real reform."

Let's make a law that requires homeless people to buy houses (or face a fine) and another law requiring the hungry . . . er, "food insecure," . . . to eat 3 meals a day or pony up a fine. See how simple it is to cure the ills of society?

[Abq_Sarah]

33. The fines are a huge problem

If someone can't afford to purchase insurance today, how is a fine going to enable them to do it tomorrow?

[Ed76638]

7. Fuck this maggot piece of shit.

[ellie]

10. I hate this asshole

[cornermouse]

12. Translation: Save the embryo and stop socialism.

This is different from the republicans? How?

[Jefferson23]

15. HISTORIC CAPITULATION ACT, here it comes, hooray!!

OMG, I am so angry at this, Nelson is the hero now?

[madrchsod]

16. is this april fool`s day?

the senate bill is a sick fucking joke on the american people

[ananda]

17. Bullshit!

If this bill "stands the test of time" for anything,
it will stand as a marker for the complete fascist
control of this country by corporations at the
expense of the people.

[Omaha Steve]

21. So why do the R's stand so solid against it?

What do they fear since your description has us doing a favor for their base?

[cornermouse]

24. The R's are opposing it only because

they aren't the recipient of all that lovely lobby money. If they could have thought of a something like a "personal responsibility act" that would have done the same thing under their name, they would have been gung-ho.

[LibDemAlways]

25. The R's are against it because they march in lockstep and they

are only to happy to see Obama and the Dems go down having to own this turkey of a bill. When the American public wakes up and finds out they have been sold down the river there will be hell to pay.

[kirby]

27. Republican Strategy...

Right after Obama was elected, the Republicans leadership decided that they were going to win back their seats by doing their part to make Obama look like a failure. It is simply McConnell and Cantors strategy. What really pisses me off is that the Republicans are getting concessions/amendments to these bills, yet they are not going to vote for them.

[Omaha Steve]

18. Have many DUers forgotten how the US Government works?

We have to get the Senate version to 60 to advance reform. The two versions of the bill have to be reconciled into ONE bill for both houses to vote on. There are yet many changes to be made. Hammer it out there, then decide if you want to kill our best chance so far for the CHANGE we voted for.

OS

[Jefferson23]

20. No one has forgotten, you feel confident from what you have witnessed so far?

I'm not, and Anthony Weiner already said, the bill isn't that bad. And anyone who is killing the chance for reform is the Senate, not the people condemning it. Killing the bill indicates the need to start over, not rush this shit through for a Christmas present to the insurance industry.

[Odin2005]

26. He can go to Hell.

[go west young man]

28. Kill the bill...reconciliation and 51 votes is what we want. Fuck Nelson.

[Omaha Steve]

32. There is no reconciliation with Nelson's #60 yes

It won't get to reconciliation without him. DUH!

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

30. Lieberman / Nelson, Repub slate in 2012?

It might do better even than Palin/Beck!

:hi:

[wordpix]

31. Nelson ran an insurance co. - this explains it, he's knee-deep in the insurance muck

Nelson has embraced the role of deal-maker again and again, from his days running an Omaha insurance company to his time as Nebraska governor.

[New Dawn]

34. A historic handout to the "health" insurance conglomerates.

Meanwhile, US workers will be forced to buy low-coverage "health" insurance from private companies (i.e. fascist economics). Dissenters (and those who can not afford to pay for the "insurance" or the IRS fines) will be sent to jail.

[Wardoc]

35. It is a historic bribe he got to pass a sham. Hope he enjoys his 30 pieces of silver. (nt)