Prospects look iffy for expansion of health care coverage to low-income Nebraskans

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.omaha.com/article/20140318/LIVEWELL26/303189814/1685#prospects-look-iffy-for-expansion-of-health-care-coverage-to-low-income-nebraskans

By Martha Stoddard / World-Herald Bureau
March 19, 2014

LINCOLN — The prospects appeared iffy Tuesday for a proposal to expand government-funded health coverage to more low-­income Nebraskans.

State Sen. Jeremy Nordquist of Omaha, a co-sponsor of Legislative Bill 887, said the key vote on the measure will come this morning, when backers try to end a filibuster. The effort will require 33 votes to succeed.

“It looks like an uphill battle at this point,” Nordquist said.

He said the first attempt to pass a needed amendment was troubling. Backers fell one vote short of the 25 required, with 23 senators sitting out the vote. The second attempt succeeded on a 29-7 vote, with 10 senators abstaining.

FULL story at link.