Sen. Ben Nelson: No abortion amendment, no cloture on health bill

[babylonsister]

I am so, so sick of this guy.

http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/71927-nelson-neb-no-abortion-amendment-no-cloture

Sen. Nelson: No abortion amendment, no cloture on health bill
By Eric Zimmermann - 12/12/09 10:01 AM ET


In a Washington Post profile published this morning, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) lays down the gauntlet on healthcare reform:

Even if all other issues on the health bill are resolved, abortion remains the hardest for Nelson. Regardless of the wording, he demands one result: no federal abortion funds.

"If I don't get it, I can't support cloture {ending the filibuster} on the next round," he said.

Of course, the Senate has already voted down his amendment, which mirrored the House-approved Suptak amendment.

The question becomes: Will there be some other last minute movement on abortion funding that wins over Nelson's support, or do Democrats hope that their compromise on the public option will win over one or two Republicans?

That compromise, by the way, seems to be less than solid. (See here, here, and here.)

[TheWraith]

1. At this point, reducing the filibuster to 55 sounds like it might be our only option.

Short of finding some miracle proposal that can placate all of our troublesome Senate votes.

[MineralMan]

2. Nelson should be one of the main targets for replacement

as soon as possible. That's where our energies should be going...replacing the moron Democrats with some who are at least not morons.

[Phoebe Loosinhouse]

3. Nelson! (said in Seinfeld "Newman!" tone) nt.