Nelson got himself a hell of a deal.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

I just heard on the radio that they agreed to pay Nebraska's Medicare costs forever. Vermont apparently got a 6 year deal. Can someone tell me if that crap is true?

[golddigger]

1. Yes, it definitely is true!

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

2. How can the other Senators let this happen?

[golddigger]

5. He was the last hold out. Anything for a win.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

7. A win on a bill that everyone hates.

[laughingliberal]

3. Was it Medicare or Medicaid? nt

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

4. They said medicare.

[jwirr]

16. States pay a share of Medicaid not Medicare.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

18. I corrected in the post below.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

6. WSJ says medicaid though.

[laughingliberal]

10. Found a story on Politico

Ben Nelson’s “Cornhusker Kickback,” as the GOP is calling it, got all the attention Saturday, but other senators lined up for deals as Majority Leader Harry Reid corralled the last few votes for a health reform package.

Nelson’s might be the most blatant – a deal carved out for a single state, a permanent exemption from the state share of Medicaid expansion for Nebraska, meaning federal taxpayers have to kick in an additional $45 million in the first decade.

But another Democratic holdout, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), took credit for $10 billion in new funding for community health centers, while denying it was a “sweetheart deal.” He was clearly more enthusiastic about a bill he said he couldn’t support just three days ago.

Nelson and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) carved out an exemption for non-profit insurers in their states from a hefty excise tax. Similar insurers in the other 48 states will pay the tax.

Vermont and Massachusetts were given additional Medicaid funding, another plus for Sanders and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) Three states – Pennsylvania, New York and Florida – all won protections for their Medicare Advantage beneficiaries at a time when the program is facing cuts nationwide.




http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1209/30815.html

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

15. Thanks the Examiner and WSJ also had it.

[jwirr]

17. This type of wheeler dealer trading is not new. How do you think

LBJ got so many deals?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

19. By screwing peoples eyes out how else?

[laughingliberal]

23. True. But I just provided a link to clarify a question which had been asked nt

[Ruby the Liberal]

8. Is this for real?

:grr:

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

11. Health care reform rush for Christmas in the Senate

The last Democrat that had been holding out on the Senate health care reform bill, Senator Nelson of Nebraska, finally agreed to a cloture vote to take place early Monday morning. A USA Today report stated that Senator Reid "agreed to a series of concessions on abortion and other issues" such as more stringent language preventing federal funds from going toward abortions. However, not mentioned in the article as perhaps a large part of Senator Nelson's decision to move forward is that his state gets a permanent exemption from Nebraska's Medicaid program having to fund additional coverage to people of low-income.

http://www.examiner.com/x-25691-Baton-Rouge-Health-Insurance-Examiner~y2009m12d20-Health-care-reform-rush-for-Christmas-in-the-Senate

[Ruby the Liberal]

21. That almost reads like Nebraska won't have to cover more people

under Medicaid.

We have got to stop this bill. This is getting ridiculous.

[Walk away]

9. Now can he be arrested for extortion? How can the American people..

allow this? How can we stop it?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

14. I have no idea.

[walldude]

26. It was literally blackmail. I almost puked when I read his statement

"Without these provisions I will not vote for this bill" And it had some anti-abortion crap in it as well. Something about states opting out of abortion coverage if they want to...

[MichiganVote]

12. True. Can't wait for my taxes in cash strapped high unemployment Michigan to go to Nebraska.

Thanks a lot.

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

13. Big win eh?

[RainDog]

20. LOL! Socialism for NEBRASKA. we pay their bill to deny one for the rest of the nation?

so the rest of us are 3/5ths of a social democracy?

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

22. At least they picked a state with a small population.

I wonder how many new holdouts we will see.

[cherokeeprogressive]

24. Say it with me: Signing Ceremony... Signing Ceremony... Signing Ceremony...

It's the ONLYEST thing that's important, and to more people than you can imagine. Lots don't even care about the bill itself. It's the principle that's important. Obama must have his victory, no matter who loses.

[Born_A_Truman]

25. The Medicaid EXPANSION...

The bill pays 100% of the Medicaid expansion for all 50 stations for a certain number of years, then scales back to 98%, etc.

Nelson has recently complained that the proposed expansion of Medicaid to those earning below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) would burden his state of Nebraska and suggested that states should be able to opt-in to the program.

Under the current merged legislation (the version unveiled on November 18th), the federal government fully finances care for the expanded population for two years and increases its matching funds (known as FMAP) thereafter. Page 98 of the managers amendment specifically identifies Nebraska for higher federal matching funds, fully funding its expansion:

[Va Lefty]

27. You think limpballs will be talking about this tomorrow...

or will he be fighting the "War on Christmas"?

[Joanne98]

28. Snowe could have gotten that deal. I bet Mainers want to kill her right now! lol

[Fire_Medic_Dave]

29. She's going to filibuster now.