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Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson voted in favor of a Senate cloture motion to proceed to debate health care reform on the floor of the United States Senate, and issued this statement:
“For months this year, millions of Americans and thousands of Nebraskans have spoken out about health care reform. Tonight, I voted to bring those Town Hall and kitchen table views into the U.S. Senate, so we can begin debating how to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little.
“Throughout my Senate career I have consistently rejected efforts to obstruct and that’s what this vote is about. I’ve been puzzled to see some senators who also opposed obstruction a few years ago now call for blocking the Senate from a full debate. I guess they were against obstruction before they were for it.
“As we have seen before, obstructionists invited moving toward reconciliation by opposing this first procedural vote. That route shrinks debate and amendments, eliminates bipartisanship and needs only 50 votes to pass a bill.
“In the end, more Washington-run health care policies win, but Nebraskans lose.
“This vote was not for or against the new Senate health care bill released Wednesday. It was not THE vote on health care. It only begins debate and an opportunity to make improvements. If you don't like a bill why block your own opportunity to amend it?
“I support parts of the bill and oppose others I will work to fix. If that's not possible, I will oppose the second cloture motion—needing 60 votes—to end debate, and oppose the final up or down vote on a Senate bill, and will do the same on motions to advance any subsequent House and Senate compromise bill.
“But I won't slam the doors of the Senate in the face of Nebraskans now. They want the health care system fixed. The Senate owes them a full and open debate to try to do so.”
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