Ben Nelson – News Stories About Ben Nelson - Page 3

HEALTH REFORM

Oct 14, 2009 12:55 PM CDT

Six Senate Swing Votes

From Dems who swing right to left-leaning GOPers, debate promises suspense

(Newser) - As health care reform bills merge and change on the Senate floor, the pool of legislators to watch has grown. The Wall Street Journal takes a look:

Olympia Snowe, R-Maine: Her vote for the Finance Committee bill was clutch, but "doesn't forecast what my vote will be tomorrow,"

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Public Option Compromise Gains Steam

Oct 8, 2009 5:31 PM CDT

Public Option Compromise Gains Steam

Proposal creates national plan but lets states opt out

(Newser) - The public option lives: both conservative and liberal Democrats seem to like an idea proposed by Chuck Schumer to establish a national health plan but allow states to opt out if they so choose. Conservative Ben Nelson has backed it, and a spokesman for Max Baucus said he might join...

Health Reform Ads Already Turn Nasty

Aug 1, 2009 2:25 PM CDT

Health Reform Ads Already Turn Nasty

Dems' Nelson blasts liberal TV spot, warns tone will kill legislation

(Newser) - Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson is firing back against two liberal groups who are accusing him of partnering with insurance companies to “lead the charge to delay health reform” in a new TV ad, the Hill reports. “If this is an indication of the politics going into August, then...

60 Votes
No Quick Fix
for Senate Dems

analysis

Jul 2, 2009 9:52 AM CDT

60 Votes No Quick Fix for Senate Dems

Absences, diverse opinions could prove stumbling blocks

(Newser) - With the Minnesota election finally settled, Senate Democrats have 60 potential votes now—but that won’t guarantee smooth sailing, the New York Times reports. Ted Kennedy and Robert Byrd may often be out sick, and a range of viewpoints means the caucus won’t likely “walk in lockstep,...

If Health Care Push Fails, Blame Dems

OPINION

Jun 22, 2009 10:48 AM CDT

If Health Care Push Fails, Blame Dems

Public wants a public option; why do 'centrists' oppose it?

(Newser) - Now ought to be a good time to reform health care. With costs up and coverage down, polls show the public overwhelmingly favors change. Unfortunately, “a handful of Democratic senators are still determined to party like it’s 1993,” writes Paul Krugman of the New York Times. These...

Moderate Dems
Balk Over
Obama Deficit

Mar 11, 2009 11:07 AM CDT

Moderate Dems Balk Over Obama Deficit

Right wing of the president's party will fight to shave budget

(Newser) - Barack Obama may be president, but it’s Congress that passes the budget, and moderate Democrats are the ones holding the keys to the federal treasury, reports Time. Obama’s 2010 budget calls for $3.6 trillion in federal spending. And though deficit-hawks appreciate the president’s honest numbers (in...

President Gets Personal With Swing Senators

Feb 5, 2009 10:22 AM CST

President Gets Personal With Swing Senators

Holds highly unusual 1-on-1 meetings with stimulus holdouts

(Newser) - President Obama is reaching across the aisle to moderate senators whose votes are crucial to passage of the economic stimulus bill. He put in a call to John McCain, who has been a vocal critic of the bill’s current incarnation. “We'd like to sit down and try to...

Senate Dems Don't Have
Votes to Pass Stimulus

Feb 4, 2009 9:23 AM CST

Senate Dems Don't Have Votes to Pass Stimulus

Senate moderates, GOP insist on stripping out billions

(Newser) - President Obama’s first big bill, the stimulus package passed by the House, lacks the votes to clear a Senate filibuster, reports the Washington Post. Senate moderates are proposing to strip $200 billion in spending to win GOP supporters. Says Democratic whip Dick Durbin, “100 decisions” will be “...

Senate Queasy on Spending in Obama Stimulus

TALK SHOW ROUNDUP

Feb 1, 2009 11:30 AM CST

Senate Queasy on Spending in Obama Stimulus

Kyl: 'Start from scratch;' McConnell vows Dems won't get 60 seats

(Newser) - The level of spending in Barack Obama’s House-approved $819 billion stimulus package will complicate its Senate passage, say two senators whose support will be crucial. “Unfortunately, this bill has become a Christmas tree,” Republican Susan Collins told CNN, while Democratic colleague Ben Nelson said, “There’s...

In Senate, Pranks Mix
With Politics

Jun 23, 2008 12:13 PM CDT

In Senate, Pranks Mix With Politics

Democrats Nelson, McCaskill channel Ashton Kutcher

(Newser) - The prank war started when Ben Nelson took advantage of Claire McCaskill's inexperience and got his fellow Democrat even more nervous about her 2007 Senate swearing-in than she already was. The action since then has been sporadic but inventive. McClatchy returns from Capitol Hill with tales of the lawmakers' dueling...

Fellow Pols Shaken by Kennedy Diagnosis

May 20, 2008 2:49 PM CDT

Fellow Pols Shaken by Kennedy Diagnosis

Colleagues met news with 'stunned silence'

(Newser) - Ted Kennedy's Senate colleagues reacted to news that the lawmaker has been diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor with "stunned silence," Ben Nelson of Nebraska tells the Hill. "I am having a hard time remembering a day in my 34 years here when I felt this badly,...

Clinton Plans Fla. Visit, Denies She's Campaigning

Jan 29, 2008 4:39 PM CST

Clinton Plans Fla. Visit, Denies She's Campaigning

Obama camp snipes at 'cute' evasion of DNC sanctions

(Newser) - Hillary Clinton will make her first official campaign appearance in Florida tonight just as primary voting ends, honoring the letter if not the spirit of the Democrats' pledge not to campaign in states that leapfrogged Super Tuesday without party permission. Barack Obama's campaign called the projected winner's timing "too...