Research Briefing

Sen. Ben Nelson Says He’s Always “Rejected Efforts To Obstruct,” Yet His Record Says Otherwise

Sen. Ben Nelson: “This weekend, I will vote for the motion to proceed to bring that debate onto the Senate floor.  … Throughout my Senate career I have consistently rejected efforts to obstruct. That's what the vote on the motion to proceed is all about.” (Brian Beutler, “Nelson: Let's Debate This Health Care Bill,” Talking Points Memo, 11/20/09)

SEN. NELSON WON’T “OBSTRUCT” DEBATE ON REID’S BLOATED HEALTH CARE BILL, BUT HAS VOTED TO BLOCK DEBATE SEVERAL TIMES BEFORE

On July 9, 2003, Sen. Nelson Voted To Block Debate On The Patients First Act. (S.11, Roll Call Vote #264: Failed 49-48; D 0-46 R 49-2; 7/9/03)

• “A bill to protect patients' access to quality and affordable health care by reducing the effects of excessive liability costs.” (S.2061, Roll Call Vote #15: Failed 48-45; D 1-42 R 43-3; 2/24/04)

On February 24, 2004, Sen. Nelson Voted To Block Debate On The Healthy Mothers And Healthy Babies Access to Care Act. (S.2061, Roll Call Vote #15: Failed 48-45; D 1-42 R 43-3; 2/24/04)

• “A bill to improve women's health access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services.” (S.2061, Roll Call Vote #15: Failed 48-45; D 1-42 R 43-3; 2/24/04)

On April 7, 2004, Sen. Nelson Voted To Block Debate On The Pregnancy and Trauma Care Access Protection Act. (S.2207, Roll Call Vote #66: Failed 49-48; D 1-45 R 48-3; 4/7/04)

• “A bill to improve women's access to health care services, and the access of all individuals to emergency and trauma care services, by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of such services.” (S.2207, Roll Call Vote #66: Failed 49-48; D 1-45 R 48-3; 4/7/04)

On April 22, 2004, Sen. Nelson Voted To Block Debate On The Fair Act. (Sen. 2290, Roll Call Vote #69: Passed 50-47: R 49-0; D 1-47, 4/22/04)

• “A bill to create a fair and efficient system to resolve claims of victims for bodily injury caused by asbestos exposure, and for other purposes.” (Sen. 2290, Roll Call Vote #69: Passed 50-47: R 49-0; D 1-47, 4/22/04)

On May 8, 2006, Sen. Nelson Again Voted To Block Debate On The Healthy Mothers And Healthy Babies Access To Care Act. (S.23, Roll Call Vote #116: Failed 49-44: R 49-2; D 0-42, 5/8/06)

• “A bill to improve women's access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the delivery of obstetrical and gynecological services.” (S.23, Roll Call Vote #116: Failed 49-44: R 49-2; D 0-42, 5/8/06)

On May 8, 2006, Sen. Nelson Voted To Block Debate On The Medical Care Access Protection Act. (S.22, Roll Call Vote #115: Failed 48-42: R 48-2; D 0-40, 5/8/06)

• “A bill to improve patient access to health care services and provide improved medical care by reducing the excessive burden the liability system places on the health care delivery system.” (S.22, Roll Call Vote #115: Failed 48-42: R 48-2; D 0-40, 5/8/06)

AND SEN. NELSON KNOWS A VOTE TO DEBATE IS A VOTE TO PASS

Congressional Research Service Report Shows 97 Percent Of Bills Brought To Debate Are Passed By Senate. “A new study of Senate voting patterns shows the chamber has approved more than 97 percent of all bills subject to a cloture motion to begin debate — a finding that could undercut Democratic efforts to paint a key health care vote on Saturday as procedural. According to a new Congressional Research Service report, since 1999 the Senate has approved 97.6 percent of all bills when lawmakers first voted to begin debate.” (John Stanton, “CRS Report Shows Most Bills Subject to Cloture Pass,” Roll Call, 11/19/09)

Sen. Nelson Voting For Bill Despite Claiming Language Barring Abortion Funding Not Good Enough. “The language in the Senate healthcare reform bill designed to bar federal funds from paying for abortions is not good enough, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) said Thursday. … Reid did not succeed, according to Nelson, a key centrist swing vote Reid needs to advance his healthcare bill at a crucial test vote set for Saturday. ‘We have looked at the language,’ Nelson told The Hill. ‘That language is not language that I would prefer.’” (Jeffrey Young, “Ben Nelson: Senate Bill's Abortion Provisions Not Good Enough,” The Hill, 11/19/09)

• Sen. Nelson: “I think you need to have it eminently clear that no dollars that are federal tax dollars, directly or indirectly, are used to pay for abortions and it needs to be totally clear. [It’s] not clear enough, I don’t think.” (Jeffrey Young, “Ben Nelson: Senate Bill's Abortion Provisions Not Good Enough,” The Hill, 11/19/09)