Posted on 12/19/2009 2:09:47 PM PST by opentalk
Not that this will come as any great shock, but Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), the lone Democrat holdout against the current iteration of healthcare reform, announced Saturday he will vote for the bill.
Also unsurprising: much like Mary "Louisiana Purchase" Landrieu (D-La.) before him, Nelson sold his vote and his very soul for some financial benefits to his state.
As Politico reported moments ago:
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. [...]
Medicaid is usually paid for with a mix of federal and state funding, but Nelson's carve out means that any Medicaid beneficiaries who join the program after the bill passes will be funded by the federal government.
It's a sweet deal considering that many governors are worried that the Medicaid expansion will further strain already stressed state budgets.
Great. So states with fiscal problems of their own get their budgets squeezed as a result of this bill, but the man that history will show cast the deciding vote gets his state off the hook!
Amazing!
Beyond this, tax dollars went to bribe two key Democrats so that a bill will be passed that will raise our taxes further!
Absolutely amazing!
Is this what Hope and Change meant?
Exit question: If we now disaffectionately refer to Louisiana's Democrat Senator as Mary "Louisiana Purchase" Landrieu, what should we call Nelson for his historic sellout?
I've already heard Ben "Cornhusker Kickback" Nelson, but think that lacks punch.
Any other suggestions?
I wonder if the people of Nebraska are proud today? Shame! Shame! Eternal shame! Enjoy your perks while you can.
Ashamed of my Cornhusker heritage..... pox on the whole state.
The list, ping
Like Landreiu, Bill Nelson sells out at this price. So much for Morals, Ethics and any political backbone.
From The Weekly Standard’s William Kristol:
“Pyrrhus’s victory became Pyrrhic because the victorious party lost many of its supporters—but also because the opposition didn’t abate in courage, was able to gain new recruits, and had the force and resolution to go on.”
Just for starters, let’s defeat defeatism. Let’s be more resolved than ever to win. Let’s not waste time wringing our hands thinking all is lost. The way to win is clearer than ever—by harnessing public outrage. Another battle looms ahead in the Supreme Court. It’s significant I think that the Italian Constitutional Court just told the European Court—which declared Italian schools must remove crucifixes from classrooms—to go take a hike. I have a hunch our own SC will tell Congress and this president to do likewise regarding healthcare.
Final vote not conducted as of yet. Freepers in Nebraska need to call 10 friends and acquaintances and ask each of them to call 10 friends and acquaintances and so on, with the purpose of making last minute calls to Nelson’s office in opposition to this Obamacare fiasco.
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