Action 3 News - Omaha, Nebraska News, Weather, and Sports | Nelson: My Vote is Not For Sale
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(AP and Staff Reports)-Senator Ben Nelson tells the Associated Press "My vote is not for sale - period." That was in response to rumors surfaced that the Nebraska Democrat had been threatened with the loss of Offutt Air Force Base if he did not vote for health care reform. Both Nelson and the White House say the rumor, first attributed to conservative columnist Michelle Malkin, is completely false.
In fact, Nelson is not yet completely on board with the plan even after an unusual one-on-one meeting with President Barack Obama. Nelson told the President he still has many concerns about federal funds for abortion, funds for Medicare, cuts in payments to nursing homes and controlling health care costs.
Nelson is the only known potential holdout among the 60 senators who are members of the Democratic Party's caucus. 60 votes are needed for the bill to move forward, meaning that any defection by a Democrat in the Senate could kill it. That's why Nelson has been targeted heavily by activists on both sides of the debate.
