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Ben Nelson bows to the insurance industry |
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Ben Nelson came out today against a public health insurance option: (via CQ, no link)
Sen. Ben Nelson said Thursday that he will oppose the creation of a government-run health insurance plan as part of a health care overhaul, contrary to the position held by many of his fellow Democrats.
Nelson, D-Neb., said he may try to assemble a coalition of like-minded centrists opposed to the creation of a public plan, as a counterweight to Democrats pushing for it. He said he does not believe a majority of the Senate supports the idea.
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But Nelson sides with opponents, who say a government-run plan would undermine the nation’s existing system of employer-sponsored health insurance.
Republicans, insurers and business groups say private insurers could not compete with a government-run plan, which presumably wouldn’t have to spend money on activities such as marketing or developing networks of participating physicians and hospitals. Eventually, opponents say, most consumers would join the public plan, either because its prices are lower or because their employers stop offering insurance.
“At the end of the day, the public plan wins the game,” Nelson said. He called the inclusion of a public plan in legislation a “deal-breaker” for him.
The company Nelson finds himself in is laid out clearly: business, the insurance industry, and Republicans. Of course, this isn’t surprising, considering his campaign donation history. Open Secrets says Nelson received $608,709 from the insurance industry in 2007-2008, making the insurance industry his biggest donor group, more than lawyers and even lobbyists.
And so, Nelson has decided to bow to the wishes of his campaign contributors, instead of standing up for what 73% of the American public want: A choice of a public health insurance option.
In his opposition, Nelson can’t even muster the courage to be honest about his motives. Instead, he parrots the latest right-wing talking point, that a public health insurance option will somehow undermine the employer-based health care system.
This point, of course, is ludicrous. How exactly would this undermining happen? Every person in America will be offered a choice. If they choose the public health insurance option, how exactly is anything being forced upon them? And if businesses choose the public health insurance option, again, how is that not a choice?
It’s unfortunate that Nelson is expressing opposition to something so reasonable and so popular. The bright spot here is that Nelson’s planned coalition of like-minded Senators is likely to be about as successful as Evan Bayh’s short-lived coalition to undermine Obama’s budget. That bill passed, and so will this, whether Nelson wants it to or not.
(also posted at the NOW! blog)
Bill Nelson should be stripped of his deomcratic party status, and forced to be a repuglican.
I did wonder how long it would take for this argument to turn up. This was a common argument that they made back in the 50’s and 60’s to argue for privatization of utilities and health care facilities, as if the country somehow owed them a living.
Wah! These corporatist whimper, how can private companies compete against the government? At the same time they claim that people prefer private insurance companies that give better service. If that is the case, the private companies should have no trouble competing, so why are they worried?
Ben Nelson, a political prostitute.
Ben Nelson, preventing people from getting medical care, opposing the interests of Americans in favor of wealthy oligarch bureaucrats, fresh from helping Bush - Nelson you are going to Hell - you will be taken by the Lord Jesus Christ, cast into the lake of fire, there you will be burned alive forever. Praise God!!!! Praise Jesus!!!! Amen!!!!
OK, so we did some suggestions and some name calling. But the real question is: what are we going to DO about Ben Nelsons in the senate? We the sheeple deserve health care. We the sheeple have been denied what is our right. All the other people of industrialized world (and not only) have health care.
Well, are we just going to sit and bitch about it, or are we going to do something drastic for a change? Where is our leader? I am ready to follow any sensible person with a half-ass solution.
I’d start by calling his office. But there will be more to do on this in the coming weeks.
An amazing, simple, safe, legal way to show your support for a true national health care plan has been devised which will be revealed soon. We were waiting for after the election to give Obama a chance, but it looks like he will need encouragement and large, effective, shows of public support.
Keep an eye on
http://www.massivemedicalmobilization.org
Nelson is the worst of the lot…for sure….but their are at least eleven other who are poisoning the well..Tester, Landrieu, McCaskill, Bennett, Byrd, Baucus, Carper, Johnson..etc., so-called “Democrats” who consistently vote against “the people” and vote in favor of corporations and Banks..we have almost wiped out the GOP..all thats left is a few old white neo-confederate men, now we start on the Blue-Dog Democrats…we go after them, big time!….(they can raise money from their corporate masters)…find some real progressives (screw the DLC, another good ole boys club) to run against these turds…we do the voting…lets get them, next…!!!
ben nelson…nebrasaka at its finest….
Money talks and Bought Ben, like the old RCA logo dog, listens to his masters voice.
Ben Nelson, ya know, $608,000 won’t last long if you you have a major health problem! Your wife and family may have to work for a living, go on welfare, lose their home. Today, you’re wiping your butt with corporate bucks…tomorrow, please notice…that none of us care about helping you out. Sleep well greedy prince, the corporations will bite you too, much sooner than you might expect!
This Nebraskan parasite should be left dangling by his balls from the nearest shrub. What a disaster for Democratic voters of Nebraska, who thought by voting for a “Democrat” would actually mean something good, for a change.
Sounds like it is time for
Target_Bluedog.org
BTW
Anyone else heard about the HINI virus?
Say it don’t number it…
thats because these people all have health-care paid for by taxpayers they don’t pay a dime out of pocket that i know of and until they have what we have nothing will change
He is already insured through the government. He just doesn’t want you to have access to it also.
So what I hear from the authors (both of the article and comments) is that you all want free health care. I’m all for better availability of medical facilities and cheaper health care, but I don’t ever expect anything for free. If the government will pay for my insurance, why would my employer want to when the government already takes 35% of whatever he earns? Is that hard to understand? The greed for _free_ health care is no better than Nelson’s greed for insurers’ money. Why not look at medical litigation reform and medical lawsuit frivolity? Seems like a much better place to start as I believe that is to blame for constantly rising prices in doctors’ offices/hospitals. That is unless you don’t want to abridge the rights of professional victims and ambulance chasers. All I’m asking is that you don’t abridge my rights by A) asking me to pay for your health care and B) putting out an option that might preclude my current coverage forcing me into managed health care.
Nobody is talking about free health care. There should be shared responsibility, everyone should pay what they can afford.
I don’t understand.
How many FOR-PROFIT disasters to Americans have to endure before they finally come to understand that for-profit isn’t always the BEST FIT.
I am Canadian and my health is provided both by my government and I have extended benefits through my employer.
Don’t see any doctors, specialists or insurance companies going out of business here? Sorry that’s an old and quite stupid argument.
Dude, it’s BEN Nelson D-Neb, not Bill Nelson D-Fla.