Nelson's Price

The Weekly Standard ^ | December 19, 2009 | by John McCormack

[MaestroLC]

Politico reports:

Sen. Mary Landrieu got the "Louisiana Purchase." Sen. Ben Nelson got the federal government to pick up most his state's future Medicaid tab -- forever.

As part of the deal to win Nelson's support, the federal government will fund Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients. It's a provision worth about $45 million over the first decade.

Also from John McCormack...

Nelson Agrees to Abortion Funding in at Least 13 States?

Harry Reid has released the manager's amendment that Ben Nelson has reportedly agreed to vote for, meaning that the Senate bill has 60 votes. The abortion language includes the phony segregation of funding language that was rejected in the House. It would allow individual states to opt out of the abortion-funding program--in other words, the default position is to pay for abortions; states would have to pass legislation to not fund abortions. But states where public abortion-funding is mandated by state court rulings would be required to pay for abortions:

‘‘(1) NO PREEMPTION OF STATE LAWS REGARDING ABORTION.—Nothing in this Act shall be construed to preempt or otherwise have any effect on State laws regarding the prohibition of (or requirement of) coverage, funding, or procedural requirements on abortions, including parental notification or consent for the performance of an abortion on a minor.

There are 13 states where the state supreme court has required public abortion funding according to this map from the ACLU (assuming it's up to date). Four states have decided through their legislatures to pay for Medicaid abortions. So Ben Nelson is going to allow federal tax dollars to pay for abortions in California and New York?

[aruanan]

My second email to Ben Nelson:

The reports are that you agreed to vote for the bill if Nebraska got guarantees that it wouldn't get hit so hard by the Medicaid requirements of the bill.

Well, if you didn't vote for the bill to begin with, then you would avoid all that at the start without having to rely on promises of folks who have already shown themselves to be both untrustworthy and inexpert on predictions of costs.

Don't open the door and you won't have to rely on the promises of the home invaders that they'll spare your life in exchange for an open door to plunder you of your possessions.

This is just as true for language about abortion. A bill that doesn't get passed can't use federal funds for abortion.

You stand in the way of the bill getting passed. Don't open the door!

[Madame Dufarge]

[chuck_the_tv_out]

“being treated equally under the law with Nebraskans”

but then they have their 16th amendment removing the requirement that income taxes be apportioned among the states according to population

[RatsDawg]

Goodbye America,Land of the Free, Home of the Brave

Here comes, Land of the Slave, Home of the cowards.

[FreeReign]

I am voting EVERY one out we need a clean slate

How many times and in how many states do you vote?

[MaestroLC]

I am voting EVERY one out. We need a clean slate

RINOs and liberal Dems yes. Get rid of them.

But please, there are many solid conservative Republicans that have fought and continue to fight against the Obama agenda. They need our support.

Let's get some perspective, and let's work towards those that actually deserve to lose their congressional seats and replace them with solid representatives that will abide by our constitution and the best will of the American people.

[Jim Robinson]

If this bill passes and is signed into law and the SCOTUS does not overturn it, then it is 100% proof that our government is no longer restricted by the constitution. The congress will be free to pass any law they wish.

There is absolutely nothing in the constitution authorizing this federal power grab and it’s in direct violation of our individual rights to due process and privacy not to mention violating state sovereignty rights.

We can’t sue as individuals because we don’t have “standing” but I believe we can as the people of the various states. We need to form committees in each and every state to sue for the restoration of our state sovereignty and our individual rights.

[OafOfOffice]

Capps unapologetically states she is pro choice. FINE, but pay for your own abortions.Taxpayers should not be forced to pay for something they do not believe in and pay for the irresponsble acts of those who sleep around.

I hope you all have heard that California was funding abortion clinics in poverty stricken minority areas, because Planned Parenthood felt they were most needed in poor areas. So the poor do not deserve to have babies in their minds? Most serious problem was the clinics had no physicians. Midwives and nurses were doing these abortions against the law. Dems placed it in a bill and no one knew it was going on until a senator found out.

http://www.usnews.com/articles/opinion/2009/12/07/bart-stupak-health-reform-amendment-upholds-current-abortion-funding-law.html

The main alternative, Rep. Lois Capps’s proposal, would have set a new precedent for abortion funding, essentially overturning Hyde language, by (1) mandating at least one plan in the exchange provide abortion coverage, (2) requiring a minimum $1 monthly charge for every enrollee in the public option that would go toward paying for abortion, and (3) allowing individuals receiving federal affordability credits to purchase health insurance plans that cover abortion.

Medicaid is another example. In the 17 states where abortion coverage is provided under Medicaid, the states themselves provide funds completely separate from their federal matching dollars for those services—just as individuals on the exchange could do under the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts amendment. Hyde language sets a very clear precedent that federal funds and private funds paying for the same policy cannot be segregated to provide abortion services. My amendment keeps current policy.

Representative Capps and others claim insurance companies will no longer offer abortion services under the Stupak-Ellsworth-Pitts amendment. This claim doesn’t add up. Currently, the plans covering the 8 million federal workers and their dependents do not allow abortion coverage, yet the companies offering them still provide abortion coverage through their private plans. Further, if just 20 percent of the roughly 50 million uninsured in the United States chose to purchase plans with abortion coverage, that is 10 million customers that no industry is going to ignore.

[Artem55]

The price has gone up from 30 pieces of silver to $45 million but the effect is the same. Ben Nelson has shown himself to be a Judas to America.

[budwiesest]

the nightmare thats already been started

A government take-over of healthcare is just a step towards what, I'm not certain. It will, no doubt, be heavy on re-distribution of wealth and greater regulation over everyone's lives. This will become more apparent as further steps are taken.

At the top, we're dealing with full-blown communists, while below, we're confronted with greedy elitists- happy to forge new chains for everyone if it means they'll get their hands on some of the loot.

Communists, once in power, are very difficult to remove as they'll resort to almost anything to retain that power. This will include such things as using the fear of government and fear of one's fellow citizen to stifle dissent. 2010 is important, but I too, have doubts about whether it'll be an authentic or verifiable election.

[MaestroLC]

I appreciate your optimism and you are right there is still a long way to go. But having seen Lieberman, Landrieux, Nelson and about 12 other red state senators fold, it's not hard to imagine that they will all fold again, both in the House and in the Senate.

No doubt this is a tough day for those that love freedom. A bitter pill to swallow.

But I am not going down without fighting to last drop of my American blood. If anything, this Senate vote has only energized me to fight more.

I think it has energized more people than we can dream of. Polls indicate a massive backlash is here to stay against the Obama agenda. Let's say that this is the beginning of the unmasking of Barack Obama vis-a-vis Tigar Woods. People were sold a phony image and now they have woken up to see the America-hating Marxist inside. It's ugly.

We survived much in 200+ years. And why not freedom-loving Americans rise up and fight this too! There is no other alternative. No where else to go. Give me liberty or give me death.

[Tzimisce]

Anyone in Ne knows the the guy is a left wing, stuck up his ass rat.

But he wins re-election every single time.

Besides: it’s going to be 2012 before he has to run again. :)

[BARLF]

I applaud you for your optimism,pray that you are right.

Kit Bond and McCaskill are my Senators,Bond is voting no, McCaskill will not vote against any bill the Dems put forth, never....

So far as I know she wasn't even bribed to go along with the destruction of my country,

I have called, written letters,and emailed, she responds with same - o form emails. These so called servants of the people pay no attention to their constituents.

Blue Dog Democrats are still just Democrats,looking to stay at the public trough.

[Calif Conservative]

That wasn’t my point. My point was your outrageous suggestion that “precious few” Republicans will refuse to sell out.

-George

[MaestroLC]

Anyone in NE knows the the guy is a left wing, stuck up his ass rat. But he wins re-election every single time. Besides: it’s going to be 2012 before he has to run again.

Ben Nelson is political toast. Count on it.

My bet is that he does not even run for re-election when the 2010 results are in.

[tflabo]

with these....

[Tallguy]

There’s a lot more of us than there are of them. We can take em! :)

I hope you're right, but this isn't a 'straight-up' fight. The Dems clearly have the numbers (right now) to ram this thing through. I expect that they will. Then Conservatives will have to muster a similar supermajority to reverse it -- and that's not going to be easy.

[PanzerKardinal]

Here’s my email to Senator Boxer

__________________________

Dear Senator Boxer,

It has just been reported on Politico that in exchange for Senator Nelson’s vote on health reform, the Federal government will fund Nebraska’s new Medicaid recipients.

This is worth over $45 million.

My question to you is, why didn’t you hold out?

Why couldn’t you have gotten California Federal money from Medicaid?

Aren’t we a bigger state than Nebraska?

Aren’t you a more senior and powerful senator than Nelson?

Where’s our federal funding?

If they’re going to drop money all over the place, California should have gotten some.

Maybe supporting the bill from the beginning wasn’t the best for California.

Thanks for you good work, but let’s try a little harder next time.

[A Navy Vet]

"So how are these deals Constitutional?....I know, they AREN’T."

If the House and Senate bills come out of conference with a dictate for the uninsured to buy health care insurance and signed by obambi, we will have a Constitutional fight on our hands.

Yes, I know that the whole bill along with thousands of others are unConstitutional. However, past USSC decisions have given the Fedgov free reign to use the "commerce" and "general welfare" clauses to distort and spin those clauses against the original INTENT of some of the wisest men ever to grace this planet.

As others have said on this board, I WILL NOT be forced by the Fedgov to buy anything. I will send my assets off shore and go to jail. As a young punk kid, I have been there many times, and will do so again at this late age. This is where I make my stand!

Hopefully, you won't read about me in the coming years. I have no desire to be a martyr nor a blip on the news. I just want to live the rest of my life out in peace and with my lovely wife and my little dog.

Think...

STATE NULLIFICATION! Texas Is.

[A Navy Vet]

"MY TAX DOLLARS TO NEBRASKA! Please someone call me when we are ready to actually do something about this communist subversion."

Don't hold your breath while waiting for that call. However, there is one last resort to overcome this marxist movement:

STATE NULLIFICATION. JUST SAY NO!