Posted on 12/15/2009 5:11:54 PM PST by kristinn
As the Senate health care debate enters crunch time, the pressure from all sides continued to grow today, with Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., right in the middle.
His spokesman quickly dismissed a report by conservative columnist Michelle Malkin that Nelson was even being threatened with “closure of an air force base,” presumably Offutt Air Force Base, which is south of Omaha and home of U.S. Strategic Command. Malkin also said Nelson has been promised a “bribe bigger than Sen. Landrieu's.”
That's a reference to Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat and one of the last holdouts on the vote to begin the health care debate. The legislation includes a provision to increase Louisiana's Medicaid funds that Landrieu says is worth $300 million.
Nelson spokesman Jake Thompson said both of Malkin's claims about Nelson are false.
“The rumor is not true,” Thompson said. “This misinformation is coming from inside-the-Beltway partisans who only want to derail health care reform.”
(Excerpt) Read more at omaha.com ...
Nelson's office has gone on the record with his spokeman denying the reports.
I'll trust the anonymous single-sourced articles over the 'Rat.
Well, I guess he’s taking the low road. I’d say he’s bought an paid for.
Ah. Like the words from “Shooter”
“...issued a denial, which is an admission of the truth of sorts”
Yeah, he's made his "decision." No pressure or bribery was involved. Move along...
Hey hey you you get Offut my cloud?
Burris, Obama’s replacement Senator, wants to be purchased. Its the Chicago way......and Obambi and friends have lots of Money.
The American People don’t own any representatives....Do we ?
There is going to be Hell to Pay come Primary day.
All eyes will turn next to Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson to provide the critical 60th vote to break a Senate filibuster and allow a floor vote. Mr. Nelson's major concern is that the bill doesn't do enough to prevent taxpayer money from going to insurance plans that cover abortions. Majority Leader Reid is scrambling to accommodate him.
Mr. Nelson also has other concerns that Mr. Reid and the White House will likely try to assuage. InsideHealthPolicy.com reported last month that the Nebraska senator "is keen on seeing construction of a new physician owned hospital in Bellevue, Nebraska completed." Current versions of the health care bill include federal mandates that could jeopardize the completion of many physician-owned hospitals.
The hospital is located south of Omaha, adjacent to Offutt Air Force Base, which is another major issue for Senator Nelson. Offutt's operations pump over $2 billion a year into Nebraska's economy and account for more than 10,000 jobs, but earlier this year the base was denied two new commands in an Air Force reorganization program, despite scoring well on graded Air Force evaluations. In June, Mr. Nelson called the process by which Offutt lost out "a charade" and no doubt would welcome assurances that Offutt will not be on the chopping block when the federal base-closing commission likely reconvenes in 2013.
THE MOST CORRUPT GOVERNMENT IN THE HISTORY OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!
LLS
What you said
Obviously Nelson is going to have a spotlight on him and every move he makes, his associates and especially any construction unions.
Sorry to divert but meanwhile in Democratic Underground...
Headline 1
Howard Dean: “Kill The Senate Bill”
+
Interesting thread titled
I’m Done!!! Democratic Party can go to hell for all I care.
The sheeple are in a mood to throw the bums out as it is. If there’s any inkling that votes on this bill were bought and sold, the pitchforks and torches will come out. Nelson’s position is precarious as it is. If he succumbs to bribery, he’s the blackest burnt toast can be.
The Health Reform Rumor Mill Targets Nebraskans
Posted by Dan Pfeiffer on December 15, 2009 at 06:31 PM EST Proving that they will leave no stone unturned in their efforts to undermine health reform, some blogs opposing reform are now trafficking an absurd rumor that Nebraska's Offutt Air Force Base is being threatened over Senator Ben Nelson's vote on the Senate reform bill.
To be perfectly clear: these rumors are completely baseless and false.
Thanks for your time.
Dan Pfeiffer is White House Communications Director
(Note, Mao worshipper Anita Dunn previously held Pfeiffer's position.)
Guys who were stationed there said the best day there was the day they got OFFUT!
Emailed the links to Beck. Corruption doesn’t even find the shame to hide itself longer.
Your post #8 which links to John Fund’s WSJ seems clear enough to me.
Let Nelson’s aide deny it, also.
To me, too. I’m surprised the blogosphere missed the John Fund article. It buttresses their anonymous Hill sources.
I second this.
Where there’s smoke, there’s fire!
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