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Tuesday, July 21, 2009
NELSON: OBAMA FACES 'TOUGH SALE'

Source: Omaha World-Herald

WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama faces a “tough sale” as he prepares for a prime-time news conference Wednesday on his effort to overhaul the country's health care, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Tuesday.

Americans certainly are concerned about health care costs that are spiraling out of control, but they also want Washington to tread carefully, Nelson said.

“They want to make sure that at the end of the day, whatever we do back here doesn't make things worse, doesn't raise taxes, doesn't add to the deficit and I think they're probably not convinced yet that we can do that,” Nelson said.

The president needs to explain how legislation “will be able to reduce costs, improve care, find access for individuals who don't have it and explain why the 200 million Americans who currently have it, shouldn't be worried about losing it as a result of the health care reform effort,” Nelson said.

The Nebraska senator could end up being a key vote. He has expressed concerns about the measures proposed by fellow Democrats so far, while reserving final judgment until after the Senate Finance Committee finishes its work.

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