Senator Nelson says there will only be a "limited" House/Senate conference on Senate health bill!

[Better Believe It]

Nelson: I'll Filibuster Post-Conference Health Care Bill If House Forces Major Changes
Brian Beutler
December 19, 2009


Nelson: I'll Filibuster Post-Conference Health Care Bill If House Forces Major Changes
Brian Beutler
December 19, 2009

Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) confirmed moments ago that he will support the Senate health care bill, which will soon be amended to include new, more restrictive abortion language. But, he says, he reserves the right to filibuster the very final version of health care legislation if it changes significantly when Senate and House negotiators meet to agree upon a single package of reforms.

"Without in any way intending to be threatening--to be more in the more of promising--let me be clear, this cloture vote is based on full understanding that there will be a limited conference between the Senate and the House," Nelson said. "If there are material changes in that conference report, different from this bill, that adversely affect the agreement, I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote--let me repeat it--I reserve the right to vote against the next cloture vote if there are material changes to this agreement in the conference report. And I will vote against it if that is the case."

http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/12/nelson-ill-filibuster-post-conference-health-care-bill-if-house-forces-major-changes.php?ref=dcblt

[CaliforniaPeggy]

1. He's bluffing...call him on it.

Goddamn DINO.

:mad:

[lapfog_1]

4. No, he isn't.

Who wants this piece of shit to pass?

President Obama, Harry Reid, and, to a lesser extent maybe, Nancy Pelosi.

All of the progressives that we've heard from for the last 10 months are abandoning us and siding the the DLCers.

Debbie Wasserman-Shultz, Anthony Wiener, probably even Grayson, and, sadly, even Bernie Sanders is going to vote for cloture.

No, Nelson and Leiberman and all the blue dogs and assholes are getting exactly what they wanted. We are getting the shaft.

[roguevalley]

16. Nebraska needs to dump his sorry ass. I hate him more than bush

[Me.]

Will It Matter At That Point?

Don't we need just 51 at that point? And I believe Nancy P. will have something to say about that.

[Better Believe It]

5. No. To end a "let's pretend there is a filibuster" you will still need 60 votes.

[rucky]

2. What do they have against Democracy?

[dkf]

3. Give him more money for Nebraska's medicaid and take away the abortion option.

Hell he's shown he can be bought off.

[lapfog_1]

6. He already got his 30 pieces of silver

and the language that he wanted.

[Tom Rinaldo]

7. Without substantial changes from this Senate Bill...

I will join with millions of others in an effort to kill it in the House or through a progressive backed filibuster in the Senate. Don't call that a threat, call that a promise.

Increasingly the only hope for real reform I see is for the Senate to be forced to use reconciliation.

[Better Believe It]

8. I'm with you. Unless a strong public option and other progressive changes are in final bill.

[StreetKnowledge]

9. Which they won't be if the DINOs have anything to say about it.

I say kill it. We aren't gonna get an even half-decent bill, we're gonna get a piece of shit without reconciliation.

And guess who shit-canned the amendment to allow prescription drugs to be imported from Canada? Obama. Nice work, Mr. President. Anybody who supports real health care reform needs to toss this POS in the garbage, and support the primary challenger you have coming.

[Bullet1987]

10. People don't understand the seriousness of the crime that is about to

be committed for the insurance industry. It's a change alright, a change that will shatter the middle class.

[Jamastiene]

14. Many poor people will be sent to the streets over this one too.

It is highway robbery.

[Ildem09]

11. Conference bills

are generally very limited in debate very limited scope on amendments etc.

[Kurt_and_Hunter]

13. Can't filibuster motion to proceed. No amendments. Unlimited debate with 60 vote cloture.

[depakid]

12. Since he and Lieberman, et al. are apparently running the show-

it's hard not the believe that'll be the case.

The smart move- and the wisest policy and political move with an eye toward this and future battles would be a high profile smackdown into reconciliation.

Unfortunately, it would appear that the Senate and the administration's inner checker player has finally and emphatically been revealed.

[Blasphemer]

15. Of course. They've already cut their backroom deals. Scum... nt