Political Ruminations

Sen. Ben Nelson on Health Care Repeal Efforts

Senator Nelson [D-NE] sums it up nicely.

The repealers who have their own government health insurance are very eager and ready to make sure that others don't get it through the law that's in place

Conservadem Deficit Chicken Hawks Vote to Extend Bush Tax Cuts for the Rich

Predictably, the two most conservative Conservadems, Lincoln, and Nelson, voted to extend the Bush tax cuts along with the Republicans. Via Think Progress:

Last month, as the Senate was gridlocked by a Republican filibuster of a bill to extend much-needed unemployment benefits to millions of out-of-work Americans, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) stood with the GOP against the extension. Nelson claimed that his concerns about the deficit overrode his support for the extension; he voted against the bill that finally passed 60-40.

Later that week, Nelson came out in support of an extension — “for now” — of the Bush tax cuts for the wealthiest Americans, which adds many billions more to the deficit than the unemployment insurance extension. In fact, extending the Bush tax cuts for one year alone would add $115 billion to the deficit, compared to the “relatively tiny budgetary cost of $33 billion” for the extension of UI benefits.

Today, though, Ben Nelson provided further evidence that he is a deficit peacock — someone who claims to be concerned about the deficit but isn’t actually interested in taking serious steps toward a balanced budget. Before the final vote on the states’ aid bill that passed today, Sen. Jim DeMint (R-SC) offered two amendments that would, in effect, permanently extend the Bush tax cuts. David Dayen has the results:

ht Bob Cesca

Quote of the Week

Nebraska Democrat, Ben Nelson, and Republicans in the Senate, have prevented a final vote on the bill to extend unemployment benefits for the long-term unemployed, which lapsed at the beginning of June.

Senate Majority Leader, Harry Reid said on Wednesday that the intent of the Republicans is to bring down the economy, despite their claims of concern about the deficit. Harry Reid on the Senate floor: