Ben Nelson, DINO hack

[marmar]

from ThinkProgress:



Democratic Senator Ben Nelson May Oppose Stimulus Package Because Of Pell Grant Funding»

College students sought financial aid in record numbers last year, leading even Bush administration officials to call for an increase in Pell Grant funding — “the most important form of aid to needy students.”

Yet Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) is arguing against the House version of the economic recovery package because of its funding for Pell Grants. Nelson says he wants to eliminate “non-stimulative” and non-“job creation” items in the bill:

Even some Democrats are speaking out against including popular programs — such as an almost $15 billion increase in funding for Pell grants for higher education — in legislation that is supposed to spark an economic recovery. “You don’t want to be against Pell grants,” said Sen. Ben. Nelson (D-Neb.). “But the question is: How many people go to work on Pell grants?”

Increasing Pell Grant funding is a key way to preserve jobs in this tough economy. As grant recipients pay tuition and buy books, college faculty and staff will stay employed at a time when the education sector is experiencing widespread job cuts.

And with unemployment rising, Pell Grants provide workers with greater access to higher education — boosting their prospects for gaining employment. CAP’s Will Straw notes:

Improving the skills of unemployed American workers and providing funds to allow lower-income students to work their way through college would provide a boost to the economy and improve the workforce skills needed when businesses begin to hire again as the economy improves.

Furthermore, because the recession has forced colleges to raise tuition and cut aid, students receiving Pell Grants will quickly spend their loans, providing a short-term stimulus to the economy. In the long-term, increasing access to higher education is an investment that will help alleviate a human capital-starved economy.

Although Nelson has championed Pell Grant funding in the past, he is echoing right-wing talking points in labeling parts of the bill as “non-stimulative.” Putting off the Pell Grant shortfall for a later date is something the economy cannot afford.


http://thinkprogress.org/2009/02/02/nelson-pell-grants/

[PM7nj]

1. Is he fucking kidding!? He is opposing the bill because of Pell Grants?

Good god.

[MzNov]

2. This fool always voted with Bush and the R's

he's HORRIBLE. Should absolutely be removed. One of the worst DINO's in Congress.

:grr:

[spanone]

3. god forbid we invest in education....god forbid

[Ichingcarpenter]

4. "The Benator."

Cooperation with Republicans

Nelson was the lead Democratic Senator among 14 Senators who, on May 23, 2005, forged a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "nuclear option". Under the agreement among the 14 Senators, Democrats would retain the power to filibuster one of President George W. Bush's judicial nominees only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three most conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Subsequently, he was the only Democrat to vote in favor of Brown; he was later the first Democratic senator to support Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States. Nelson also has voted twice, with three other Democrats, to end Senate debate over President Bush's United Nations Ambassador nominee John Bolton.

President Bush has nicknamed Nelson "The Benator." Originally, Bush nicknamed him "Nellie," but Nelson jokingly complained that he would prefer a "tougher" nickname.<5>