Dem Senator Shunned In Quest To Block Health Care Reform

Ryan Grim

Ben Nelson All Alone In Quest To Block Health Care Reform


Sen. Ben Nelson announced at the beginning of this month that he opposed the creation of a public health care plan that people would have the option to buy into. He'd be gathering together a coalition of like-minded senators to oppose the plan, the conservative Democrat from Nebraska promised.

More than two weeks later, it's still a coalition of one.

Since Nelson's announcement, eight moderate Democrats and one Republican have told the Huffington Post that they are open to a public health care option. Two others, Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Jim Webb (D-Va.), have signed on to the idea.

Last week, Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), Mary Landrieu (D-La.), Tom Carper (D-Del.) and Mark Warner (D-Va.) said they were open to a public plan but undecided. Sen. Arlen Specter (D-Penn.) said much the same in a letter to the advocacy group Health Care for America Now,

Add more names to the list of those open to a public option: Jon Tester (Mont.), Blanche Lincoln (Ark.), Kay Hagan (N.C.) and Maria Cantwell (Wash.).

Because Democratic leaders have said they are willing to pass health care reform with a simple majority -- rather than the 60 votes needed for most Senate business -- fewer centrist senators are needed.

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http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/05/13/ben-nelson-all-alone-in-q_n_203084.html

I know lots of them are Pubs, but there are also a lot of rural folks there that are farmers and don't have much money. I'd bet lots of them don't have ANY health ins. and no money to buy any. I'd think, even if they are Pubs, they would be interested in a public plan they could afford.