Research Briefing

Nebraskans Urge You To Stand Strong, Slow Down On Dems’ Health Care Experiment

63 Percent Of Nebraskans Oppose Current Health Care Reform.  (U.S. Chamber Of Commerce, “U.S. Chamber Releases Seven State Polls Showing Voters Opposed to Current Health Care Proposal, Press Release, 11/18/09)

Nebraska Hospital Association Government-Run Health Care Based On Expansion Of Medicare. “Nebraska’s community hospitals are concerned about establishing a new public plan that could exacerbate the underpayment of providers by paying rates at Medicare and Medicaid levels. As such, we are opposed to a public plan and any option that links payment to Medicare rates.” (Nebraska Hospital Association, “NHA Statement On President’s Address On Health Care,” Press Release, 9/10/09)

Director Of Nebraska NFIB Says Dems’ Experiment Saddle Small Businesses With “Higher Taxes And Burdensome Mandates.” “Our health care system is broken, but for Nebraska’s small, family businesses, health care reforms that saddle them with higher taxes and burdensome mandates would make things worse, not better … reform legislation will hurt small business - and that, in turn, will hurt all of Nebraska.” (Bob Hallstrom, Op-Ed, “Competition, Level Playing Field Key To Health Care Reform,” Lincoln Journal Star, 10/19/09)

The Lincoln Journal Star’s Editorial Board Blasts Sen. Harry Reid For Cutting Medicaid From Nebraska While Protecting Nevada From Same Cuts. “Nebraska’s hospitals, which in rural areas already struggle to stay open under current Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements, would face further budget reductions, estimated at $145 million. It’s galling that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid was able to work out a deal in the finance committee’s bill that would protect his home state of Nevada from Medicaid reductions for five years.” (Editorial, “Grinding Away At Health Reform,” The Lincoln Journal Star, 10/14/09)

SEN. NELSON, WILL YOU STAND STRONG AND OPPOSE GOVERNMENT-RUN HEALTH CARE?

Nelson Will Filibuster Reid’s Bill If His Amendment Prohibiting Federal Funding Of Abortion Does Not Pass. “‘I’ve said at the end of the day if it doesn’t have Stupak language on abortion in it I won’t vote to move it off the floor.’” (Carrie Budoff Brown, “Nelson Will Filibuster A Bill Without Stronger Anti-Abortion Language,” Politico’s “Live Pulse” Blog, 12/3/09)

• And Nelson’s Amendment Failed Last Week. (H.R. 3590, Vote On The Motion To Table Nelson Amdt. No. 2962, Roll Call Vote 269, Agreed To 54-45; 12/8/09)

• Sen. Nelson: “I Said I Can’t Support The Bill With The -- The Abortion Language That’s There.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 12/13/09)

Nelson Says He’ll Filibuster Bill If It Includes Long-Term Care Entitlement Scheme. NELSON: “I might not vote to get it off the floor because of other considerations as well. Even if that was perfected where I could support that particular provision, if the public option is wrong, if the CLASS Act is still in it, if there are a whole host of other items that are the same as they are right now, I wouldn’t vote to get it off the floor.” (ABC’s “This Week,” 11/22/09)

“Nelson … Said It Would Be ‘Very Difficult’ For Him To Support Any Proposal That Creates A National Plan -- Even One That Allows States To Opt Out.” (Greg Hitt & Janet Adamy, “Offer To Let States Opt Out Of Health Plan Gains Support,” The Wall Street Journal, 10/23/09)

• Nelson Opposes Reid’s Opt-Out Public Option. “I certainly am not excited about a public option where states would opt out or a robust, as they call it, robust government-run insurance plan. I’ll take a look at the one where states could opt in if they make the decision themselves.” (CNN’s “State Of The Union,” 10/25/09)

• Nelson Doesn’t See How Dems Can “Structure A Public Option In Competition With The Private Sector And Be Fair.” (Gail Russell Chaddock, “Baucus Bill Targets Senators Retreating From Public Option,” Christian Science Monitor, 9/8/09)

• Nelson Worried That Public Option Would Become “‘Government-Run, Big Government Insurance’ Company.” “Although he has not ruled out supporting a public option, Nelson said he wants to make sure it would not become a ‘government-run, big-government insurance’ company.” (Shailagh Murray & Lori Montgomery, “Centrists Unsure About Reid’s Public Option,” The Washington Post, 10/28/09)

Nelson Opposes Reid’s Tax On Health Insurance To Pay For Government-Run Health Care. “‘It’s a real problem, isn’t it?’ said Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., a moderate who opposes the excise tax.” (Susan Ferrechio, “Senate Health Plan Funding In Doubt,” The Washington Examiner, 10/16/09)

• And Nelson Doesn’t Like Pelosi’s Income Tax Increase Either. CNN’s ED HENRY: “Do you support the surtax?” NELSON: “No, I don’t.” (CNN’s “Newsroom,” 7/17/09)

Nelson Worries About The Cost Of The Medicare Buy-In And Fears It Will Lead To “The Ultimate Single-Payer Plan.” “We don’t know what it’s going to cost. The second thing is I’m concerned that it’s – it’s the forerunner of single-payer, the ultimate single-payer plan, maybe even more directly than the public option.” (CBS’s “Face The Nation,” 12/13/09)