Sen. Nelson (D-Ne) returns to Omaha to tout pared-back stimulus bill & home town putting up statue

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10558864

Published Sunday February 8, 2009
Sen. Nelson returns to Omaha to tout pared-back stimulus bill
BY KEVIN COLE
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

U.S. Sen Ben Nelson today appeared at Union Pacific Railroad's dispatch center in downtown Omaha to tout the proposed compromise ion stimulus legislation.

The Nebraska Democrat and Maine Republican Susan Collins were leading a group of centrist senators in an effort to strip tens of billions of dollars out of the $937 billion economic stimulus bill.

Nelson said senators had been working long and hard to trim $110 billion from a spending package that lawmakers are hoping will jolt the U.S. economy into recovery.

Nelson said he believed the now $827 billion stimulus package would be passed by the Senate on Monday. He said at least three Republicans are on board to vote for it.

The U.S. House already has passed its own version of the stimulus bill.

Appearing with Nelson was a spokesman for Union Pacific, who said the stimulus package "needs to get done."

Bob Turner, senior vice president of corporate relations for the railroad, said U.P. supports the package because it is aimed, in part, at strengthening the infrastructure of the country.



http://www.omaha.com/index.php?u_page=2798&u_sid=10558388

Putting Nelson on a pedestal

Published Sunday February 8, 2009
Putting Nelson on a pedestal
BY ROBYNN TYSVER
WORLD-HERALD STAFF WRITER

Little Benny Nelson did his hometown of McCook proud.

The Boy Scout grew up and left the western Nebraska town, climbing the ladder of success straight to the Governor's Mansion and the U.S. Senate.


Organizers in McCook, Neb., are raising money for a sculpture of Sen. Ben Nelson, a native son, attaining Eagle Scout with his mother and father on hand. The city already has a sculpture of Sen. George W. Norris, who lived there.

Now McCook plans to honor its favorite son, posthaste rather than posthumously.

The city's community foundation is raising money for a $100,000 sculpture of Nelson that will be placed in the town's Heritage Square, near a statue of U.S. Sen. George Norris.

Norris is one of Nebraska's most famous sons, but Nelson has made his own mark in the U.S. Senate. The Democrat captured the national spotlight last week as the leader of a group of centrist senators who worked to scale back the cost of President Barack Obama's economic stimulus package.

Even though he might be a big man in the Senate, Nelson will always be Little Benny in McCook.

FULL story at link.

[FLAprogressive]

1. hopefully that statue gets pissed on. Nelson is a right-wing tool who poses as a "Dem".

[proud2BlibKansan]

3. Nebraska is a very conservative state

No way could a true progressive get elected there.

[Maru Kitteh]

2. I just keep trying to tell myself he's better than having another Republican in there.

Sometimes it takes a lot of telling.

I hope Kleeb is willing to run again, or maybe run for Gov and then senator.

[bluestateguy]

4. As a former governor he should know better

after gutting the money for states.

But hey, we wouldn't want to be "partisan". I mean, that could make for some awkward moments at the next Georgetown cocktail party.