Cornhusker Kickback: Dems Give Nebraska Special "Lifetime" Medicaid Break For Nelson's Vote (Video)
Posted by Jim Hoft on Saturday, December 19, 2009, 12:39 PM
Bought and Paid For–
Democrats bought off Senator Nelson’s vote with a special Medicaid break for the State of Nebraska that will last forever.
While most states will struggle with the rising costs of Medicaid under the democrat’s plan, Nebraska will be the lone exception… forever.
It looks like the rest of the 49 states are just suckers.
More…
** “As part of the deal to win Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s support, the federal government will fund Nebraska’s new Medicaid recipients. It’s a provision worth about $45 million over the first decade.” (Chris Frates, “Ben Nelson’s Medicaid deal,” Politico, 12/19/09)
** “Reid already has established a dangerous precedent, by dangling $300 million in Medicaid funding for Louisiana to win Landrieu’s support for bringing the bill to the Senate floor.” (Shailagh Murray, “Reid’s recipe for getting health-care deal done,” Washington Post, 12/04/09)
** Senator Mary Landrieu “walked onto the Senate floor midafternoon Saturday to announce her aye vote – and to trumpet the financial ‘fix’ she had arranged for Louisiana. ‘I am not going to be defensive,’ she declared. ‘And it’s not a $100 million fix. It’s a $300 million fix.’” (Dana Milbank, “Sweeteners for the South,” Washington Post, 11/22/09)
** “By the time this thing is done, the millions for Louisiana will look like a bargain.” (Dana Milbank, “Sweeteners for the South,” Washington Post, 11/22/09)
** “Reid had carved out his own Medicaid exemption for Nevada.” (Shailagh Murray, “Reid’s recipe for getting health-care deal done,” Washington Post, 12/04/09)
** “[Senator Max] Baucus has modified the bill to spare Nevada and three other states, and [Senator Harry] Reid, who faces a potentially difficult race for re-election next year, is taking credit for getting a ‘major increase’ in federal money for his state … only four states meet the criteria: Michigan, Nevada, Oregon and Rhode Island … The changes came at the expense of other states … which would see significant increases in state Medicaid spending under the new formula.” (Robert Pear, “Majority Leader Protects Home State,” New York Times, 9/28/09)
** “Senators Charles Schumer of New York, Bill Nelson of Florida and Ron Wyden of Oregon are among those who secured special provisions shielding constituents from [Medicare Advantage] cuts. [Senator Bob] Casey says he wants ‘very comparable’ protections for his state …” (Brian Faler, “Obama’s Planned Medicare Cuts Distress Some Democrats,” Bloomberg, 12/03/09)
Still More… Big Government has the text for Nelson’s bribe.
Americans for Tax Reform has a list of the tax hikes in the democrat’s bill.
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Published February 7, 2012 at 8:46 pm - 113 Comments
shibumi commented:
In other words, they bribed him.
I wish my Senators were smart enough to get a bribe for voting on this. My state got nada. Zilch.
Oh wait, we’re getting screwed. I guess that’s something.
olm commented:
How in the hell can they give only certain states monetary advantages? I’m in one of the states with an advantage but I don’t get how the other states feel about footing the bill for other states.
Huh?
Mike W commented:
And while the obamao,reid and pelosi are scheming to destroy us another sexual predator is being appointed to the obamao administration of sexual deviants.
Her name is Chai Feldblum, she is a professor at Georgetown University and is a most radical homosexual activist. She has advocated polygamy and has said that “sexual liberty” trumps the Constitutional right to “religious liberty.” Of course, she underwent what is called a confirmation conversation – trying unsuccessfully to lie out of previous positions
http://thebulletin.us/articles/2009/12/19/commentary/op-eds/doc4b2c7bc65b920100926102.txt
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Bob commented:
This should be against the law
olm commented:
Yep, it should be against the law but how do you make the POTUS and Congress against the law?
The Tea Party movement is about to become one hell of a big tent.
Mike W commented:
You better make that big tent a big bunker because the obamao is all about blowing up tents with dissenters in them.
Joanne commented:
No wonder people couldn’t buy health insurance across state lines with this mentality – each state out for its own no matter how unfair it is or isn’t for other states.
Bruce commented:
Whores.
Moright commented:
Cowards’ voicemails are “full”. The polls are clear -we don’t want this bill and yet here it comes. I’m also outraged that they are pushing this through during the holidays. Thoroughly, completely disgusted.
shiba07 commented:
nelson planned this all along, he held out long enough to get the bribe he wanted. he played us. we need to bring a lawsuit against this bill, equal clause under the constitution, or something like that.
NC Cop commented:
CHANGE!!!!!
spayandneuter commented:
Don’t you just love learning about how government works …..
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Paul_In_Houston commented:
In a post on her blog ( The Obama administration: how tyranny could happen ) neo-neocon raises some disturbing possibilities, quoting from another commenter (emphasis mine)…
Politicians in a group when they act consistently and anomalously against what would seem to be their own interests, are usually operating on information not available to anyone else. One also has to add to the mix the question why the Republicans as a party are only offering token opposition to the Democrats, when standing up would rally support to them? What do they know?
When you rule out the impossible, whatever remains, however improbable, has to be considered. The only thing that remains, that I can see, is that no matter what they do, they no longer have any fear of facing the voters in an honest election. The specific mechanisms and basis for that confidence have yet to be determined.
Note: I have been reading neo-neocon’s blog for years now, and so far I’ve only seen intelligent and reasonable posts from her. She is the very last blogger I would consider as a conspiratorialist (is that even a word?).
If she is worried, then “Oh,S**t!!!
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Kathryn commented:
Besides the bill itself which is obviously unconstitutional, isn’t offering a Medicaid break for one state while costs rise for other states unconstitutional as well? Shouldn’t the break be provided for each state provided it does not go against state laws? I don’t know, just wondering.
jonyjoe101 commented:
Though it is depressing in a way, we need to look at it on the bright side. The government is going to announce the passage of this bill as a “christmas gift” to the American people. Like herpes, it’s a gift that keeps on giving.
Freddy commented:
Now that we have reached the point in the process where the senate is horse trading peoples lives, how much lower can they go?
As this unfolds, the one thing that is becoming very clear is the complete lack of moral authority being displayed by these senators. As we watch the senate move to shouting and personally attacking each other, there is simply no reason to think this will change next year. In fact, it is only going to get worse. I expect that every bill will now require a complete partisan vote for consideration.
Do not underestimate the effects that losing this amount of trust among the members of the senate will have.
With the democrats having clearly abandoned the will of the people, they will have no reason to even attempt to get it back. Meanwhile, the republicans can obstruct everything proposed in the name of the people. And in fact, they will need to do just that right through the next election cycle.
Dell commented:
As this news gets out – and it’s getting out like a raging wild-fire – there are going to be some extremely unhappy Senators from 46 states that just got hosed by Harry Reid and Barack Obama.
Folks, this horse chit is getting waaaaaay out of hand now. These Democrats are flaunting it and the reaction(s) not going to be good.
The first Revolution this country endured was primarily over taxation and lack of religious freedom. At the rate he’s going, Obama may be facing an almost identical Revolution of his own.
With what we know, I wouldn’t want to be Harry Reid or Ben Nelson right about now.
Just_Saying commented:
So, each of us should contact our senators and demand that unless my state gets a “forever waiver” akin to Nebraska’s waiver of Medicaid costs — FOREVER — that the senators should vote no on the bill.
I agree, Kathryn, this is not equal protection of the law, if Nebraskans don’t have to pay but other states do have to pay!!
Neo commented:
OK, so will the SCOTUS strip it out or extend it to all states ?
MarkJ commented:
The bastards who vote for this abortion of a bill might as well go into the witness protection program–they’ll never be able to show their ugly mugs in public again without being verbally or physically assaulted.
Molon Labe commented:
What about the Equal Protection clause of the 14th Amendment?
Anthony Mator commented:
Why is it ok to tax people differently depending on the state they live in? I would like to lead an initiative to add a new amendment to the constitution requiring that the burden of the federal budget be borne equitably across the states, according to each state’s income.
shiba07 commented:
Paul_In_Houston
December 19th, 2009 #18
i’ve been saying that for the past year, acorn and the seiu are going to make sure that free elections are the thing of the past. why else would elected officials not care what the people want? because they know damn well they don’t have to worry about the people anymore. they’re in for life, our new aristocracy, and we are nothing more then serfs
frankg commented:
So, are certain people going to flood to these medicaid sanctuaries or what? Will this be okay w/SCOTUS? What about the constitution’s phrase “provide for the general welfare”? This is rather discriminatory, I think, or has it happened before? What are the unintended consequences of this?
Anthony Mator commented:
I was thinking the same think, Frankg. If taxes go up, I’m skipping state lines.
Mike W commented:
Paul In Houston. Excellent Post Thanks.
Callipygian1 commented:
Also posted on Breitbart…
The republican party should immediately announce that if this act is enacted as written, Nebraska and Louisiana will be hit with “corrective” measures in the future that will negate the advantages gained from improper negotiations that negatively impacted the other 48 states.
wow commented:
and the other democrats are putting up with this?
aren’t they the fools.
would be hilarious if each one starts hinting at a “no” vote so that they ALL can get concessions.
What dopes. What criminals. What slime.
Just_Saying commented:
I agree wholeheartedly, Wow. If every senator votes no until their state is on a par with the states that got pay-off (i.e., Louisiana, Nevada, Nebraska), only the Republican states would have to pay for Medicaid increases.
Clearly, that would be unconstitutional, even given our lame Supreme Court.
.
IOpian commented:
This does not promote the general welfare among the states. I believe this is unconstitutional. If that matters in this oligarchy any more.
MainStreet commented:
I’m getting sick to my stomach. Bob above said, there should be a law. I always thought that was the Constitution. Louisiana and Nebraska should not be more equal than the other states. Congress swore to uphold the Constitution and the law of the land. Impeach the crooks and start anew.
Bob Belvedere commented:
Linked to at:
BEN NELSON IS A CHEAP WHORE
DKN commented:
Yes, big chunks of this bill can be challenged on constitutional grounds, but Obama is already working on that: Sotomayor, DOJ in Holder’s hands….
I’ve not, ever, in 50 years of political awareness, seen a Congress and Administration so absolutely contemptuous of public opinion.
Patriotic commented:
Corruption. Chronic Corruption is where we are at when politicians make voting decisions, based on pork-barrel-bribes, instead of the PRINCIPLES of the bills.
We have stood by for years, working our jobs, and going about our businesses, while these thieves in Washington D.C. have been wringing their nasty hands on how to grow more powerful, take more of our money.
They take money and favors from lobbyists. They attach horrible amendments to important bills just to get disgusting bills to pass, that would not have passed on their own merit.
Other legislators openly say: “I don’t know how he will stand up to all this political pressure bearing down on him and vote against this monstrosity”…
…and they expect the American people to accept this pathetic assertion? How about just saying NO NO NO NO NO based on the fact that American people seriously do not want ANY part of it.
When this passes, the politicians will hope the American people forget all about this treachery and treason, and just go back to our daily lives letting Washington D.C. run our lives for us.
What matters the most when this passes is the CONTROL it has over how we live our lives, and the FREEDOMS that it takes away. Do you remember the One Hundred and One new Federal Government agencies and beauracracies that will be established to have control over us, and to make decisions for us, that we used to have the FREEDOM to make for ourselves.
The 2010 elections are going to be big. This is the most important mid-term election I have seen in my lifetime. I would advise Conservatives to register as a Republican, so you can vote in the upcoming primary elections, and ensure that only true Conservatives make it through to the November Elections, and that NO RINO’s (republican-in-name-only, fake republicans who are actually liberal and progressive) are elected to a Republican ticket.
Massachusetts will be holding their special Senator election early on January 19, 2010, to replace Senator Ted Kennedy. The Conservative Republican running in that election is Scott Brown.
Some of our 50 States hold mid-term primary elections as early as first week of February. So research when your State is holding it’s 2010 primary elections, and register as a Republican if you are a Conservative who is sick of the liberals and progressives.
Patriotic commented:
2010 Congressional Elections Update:
U.S. HOUSE: Dems=258, Repubs=177, Republicans need to beat 41 democrats, and lose no Republican seats, to take the House in 2010, and to have the majority of votes needed to elect Republican John Boehner, as the new Republican Speaker of the House, and boot Nancy Pelosi out as the Speaker.
(takes 218 out of 435 seats to make a majority
in the House)
In the 1994 Republican Revolution, House
Republicans picked up 54 seats.
All of the House is up for reelection in 2010,
so all Democrats can be voted out in 2010.
———————————————————
U.S. SENATE: Dems=58, Repubs=40, Independent=2
(Bernie Sanders and Joe Lieberman)
Roughly 1/3 of the Senate is up for reelection every 2 years.
37 Senators are up for reelection in 2010, and
of those 37, 19 are Democrats, and 18 are
Republicans.
Republicans need to lose no Senate
Seats in 2010, and beat 20 Dems (gain 20 Senate seats)to have the 60 cloture-vote margin (filibuster-proof) to pass
legislation, but there are only 19 Democrats
up for reelection in 2010 to beat, so the
other 1 added Senate seat will have to be
done in 2012, if Joe Lieberman, the
Independent moderate, does not caucus (vote)
with them on enough legislation.
If the Republicans pick up all 19 Democrats Senate seats, and lose no Republican Senate Seats in 2010, they will have the Independent Senator Joe Lieberman, who caucuses (votes) with them some of the time, to give them the 60 Senate votes the Republicans need to pass some legislation in 2010.
In the 1994 Republican Revolution, Senate
Republicans picked up 8 seats.
———————————————————
Even with a Republican sweep in 2010, it will most likely take the 2012 Congressional elections, along with a conservative Republican President, to give Congress the ability to pass legislation, that begins fixing the damage that has been done to America. This is due to the fact that it takes a 2/3 majority vote in each Chamber, to override President Obama’s veto power. This would be 290 votes in the House, which is unlikely, and 60 votes in the Senate. A Sarah Palin, Mitt Romney, or Tim Pawlenty as President in 2012 would be a continuation of restoring sanity to America.
———————————————————
List of the 19 Senate Democrats up for
reelection or retiring in 2010:
-Ted Kaufman (D) of Delaware (Repubs Mike
Castle and Christine O’Donnell challenging)
-Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas (Repubs Gilbert
Baker and Curtis Coleman challenging)
-Barbara Boxer of California (Repubs Chuck
DeVore and Carly Fiorina-rino? challenging)
-Michael Bennet of Colorado (Repubs Jane
Norton, Ken Buck, and Cleve Tidwell challenging)
-Christopher Dodd of Connecticut (Repubs Rob
Simmons, Sam Caligiuri, and Peter Schiff are
challenging)
-Daniel Inouye of Hawaii (Repub Gov. Linda
Lingle possible challenger)
-Roland Burris of Illinois (Repubs Mark Kirk
and Patrick Hughes challenging)
-Evan Bayh of Indiana (Repub challengers
include Marlin Stutzman)
-Barbara Mikulski of Maryland (Repub
challenger Eric Wargotz)
-Paul G. Kirk Of Massachusetts (Special
election held in Jan 2010, Republican
challenger Scott P. Brown)
-Harry Reid of Nevada (Repub challengers
include Dan Tarkanian and Sue Lowden)
-Kirsten Gillibrand of New York (Possible Repub
challengers Rudy Gulianni and Liz Feld)
-Chuck Schumer of New York (*NO REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER YET)
-Byron Dorgan of North Dakota (possible Repub
challengers Paul Sorum, John Heoven, and Duane Sand)
-Ron Wyden of Oregon (*NO REPUBLICAN
CHALLENGER YET)
-Arlen Specter of Pennsylvania (Repub
challenger Pat Toomey)
-Patrick Leahy of Vermont (Repub challenger
Len Britton)
-Patty Murray of Washington (Repub challenger
George Nethercutt)
-Russ Feingold of Wisconsin (Repub challenger
Dave Westlake)
—————————————————-
There are also many other good conservative
and republican candidates running in all 50
States, so seek them out, research them, and
join with other conservatives to get the word
out, and let’s flip the House and Senate in
2010, and restore freedom and dignity to
America.
Janemarie commented:
Maybe this is another way to get universal, government-run healthcare. I have NO confidence that any senator is going to oppose this bill because his or her state didn’t win the bribery lottery because its senator isn’t Mary Landrieu or Ben Nelson. Rather, after the bill passes, left-out states will start suing for their “share” of Medicaid funding which means of course ultimately sky-rocketing taxes as we all fund this Medicaid expansion.
Of course, giving people Medicaid cards doesn’t mean they will be able to find doctors to care for them.
Super Rick commented:
Unfortunately, there appears to be ample precedent for giving Nebraskans special treatment. Check out Jim Powell’s “FDR’S Folly”.
In it you’ll discover that FDR crammed the Tennessee Valley Authority down the throats of the 98% of Americans who would never draw a watt of power produced from it. Sure seems to me that we’re repeating many of the New Deal’s mistakes and failures. Not to be forgotten is the fact that it took World War II to get us the hell out of the Great Depression.
These a**h*les are acting with such complete impunity, that I have to wonder what they must believe they have in terms of a trump card vis a vis the 2010 elections. Looks like only God’s direct intervention can save us now folks
nity
Daniel commented:
Patriotic
December 19th, 2009 | 4:00 pm | #43
======================
There is more than one Republican running against Barbara Mikulski, friend.
And I should know.
Lee Peters commented:
Ebay item of the day: http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/12/ebay-item-of-day.html
DomesticGoddess commented:
Wow – I’d be pretty P O’d if I voted yes early on and didn’t get a benny. However, they will hopefully ALL be unemployed in the near future.
Can’t wait to drain the swamp.
Karen Johnson commented:
Question? Should McCaskill face her constituant’s rath for supporting Obamacare or for being inept and not knowing how a Senator is suppose to play the game at bringing bribes to Missourians !!! Or a little both?
Solaratov commented:
Paul_in_Houston ~~
Thanks for that post. I’ve now found another blog to add to my reading list.
There’s a lot there to think about – and prepare for.
I’m just turning 65, and I never thought I’d ever see anything in America like what has been done for the past year. And, it looks as though the worst is yet to come; because I firmly agree that “The left has no intention of giving up power”. It will have to be *taken* from them.
The 2010 election may see many of us actually having to fight to vote. And fight for a fair vote count.
spayandneuter commented:
Lee Peters
December 19th, 2009 | 4:54 pm | #48
Ebay item of the day:
http://optoons.blogspot.com/2009/12/ebay-item-of-day.html
If anybody has an account at Huffpoop, would you send the above link to this thread .
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/12/19/makeorbreak-for-fate-of-h_n_398045.html
To: The American people
From: Merry Christmas from your government
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Chisum commented:
Our favorite Dem Congresswoman (you know, the one who talks like she has a mouthful of marbles) gets her arse handed to her.
Dylan Ratigan Yells At Dem Congresswoman, Abruptly Ends Interview
http://newsbusters.org/blogs/noel-sheppard/2009/12/19/dylan-ratigan-yells-dem-congresswomen-abruptly-ends-interview
John Cooper commented:
Trackback: Ben Nelson Got “Free” Medicaid for Life for Nebraska. What did Kay Hagan get for North Carolina? at the Asheville Tea Party blog.
Patriotic commented:
To: (Daniel – post #47)
Thanks for the tip for my “2010 Congressional Elections Update”. I post this list from time to time, to inform the readers, and to help build grassroots support for true Conservative Republicans.
I have updated my 2010 U.S. Senate Elections Republican candidates list for Maryland to read:
Republican challengers: Daniel McAndrew, Jim Rutledge, Eric Wargotz, and Corrogan Vaughn.
—————————————
I noticed the Open Congress Senate Elections race tracker is not updated for Maryland either.
As I stated in my previous update:
“There are also many other good conservative
and republican candidates running in all 50
States, so seek them out, research them, and
join with other conservatives to get the word
out, and let’s flip the House and Senate in
2010, and restore freedom and dignity to
America.”
———————————————
If anyone notices missing Republican candidates from my list, then post a reply, and I will research it, and update my list.
Thanks. Patriotic.
marie commented:
Mitch McConnell blew this opportunity.
Go MO Red commented:
I sure wish McCaskill who was not going to vote for a bill that included abortion funding got something for her vote which is typical since she doesn’t get earmarks for us either even thought she will vote for other states such as Jack Murtha’s earmarks.
angelsfromabove commented:
Perhaps Nelson wants some of his payoff to improve this Nebraska Abortion Clinic:
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.abortionclinics.org/defaul1.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.abortionclinics.org/abortion.htm&usg=__kHdDYgCpGre5EKOqUFwiFz8rKw0=&h=281&w=592&sz=20&hl=en&start=17&um=1&tbnid=qrZbYwReKUXdzM:&tbnh=64&tbnw=135&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dnebraska%2Babortion%2Bclinic%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADFA_enUS344US345%26sa%3DN%26um%3D1
Sojourner commented:
I wonder…. How does it feel to be Ben Nelson tonight, knowing that you’ve sold your Cornhusker soul, that your failure to act for the common good was so easily bought, knowing that future generations will revile YOUR name and mock you when the realities of the ‘New World Order’ Health Control YOU greased the skids for becomes a matter of daily life and death?.. How you will be cursed by the unborn, the elderly and the untreated while they queue up for care and remember how once there was a country that did no harm and provided the finest medical care anywhere?… Sleep well, Ben Nelson and may you stay healthy.
Scott commented:
I look forward to the first courageous state to hold a secession plebiscite…Washington is an insane asylum. They cannot be reasoned with and the law is merely their tool of oppression. It’s ten to midnight in America…
AuntieMadder commented:
Sojourner
December 19th, 2009 | 9:30 pm | #61
I doubt he gives a crap.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Solaratov
December 19th, 2009 | 5:16 pm | #51
I hope I’m as crusty as you are when I’m 65. And I mean that in a good way.
Sojourner commented:
Auntie Madder, I’m sure he doesn’t give a crap.. the fix was in all along, only the price had to be hammered out..2010 elections can’t come soon enough for me…. Merry Christmas, anyway.
Texmom commented:
Someone above said “Only God can save us now”. Indeed. Take heart, never give up and pray, pray, pray. This battle has not been lost.
John Guess commented:
Nelson, its just a legal bribe. You realize that. How can you live with yourself?