Nelson says he'll vote to allow debate, others still up in the air

Nov 20 2009

With the Senate's test vote fast approaching, some lawmakers are disclosing where they stand. For instance, Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., said Friday he will vote with Democrats to advance to debate on a health care reform bill but that he's reserving the right to vote down the bill on final passage.

The Hill reports: "'This weekend, I will vote for the motion to proceed to bring that debate onto the Senate floor,' Nelson said in a statement. 'The Senate should start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans.'" But The Hill also reports that Sens. Mary Landrieu, D-La., and Blanche Lincoln  D-Ark., "have not yet stated their positions but both have hinted in recent days they are leaning toward supporting the vote"
(Young, 11/20).

The Associated Press reports that Nelson said Nebraskans deserve a "full and open debate. … Nelson has been one of just three question marks in recent days. ... Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin said he hopes Senate Democrat Leadership can keep their caucus together (Werner, 11/20).

Meanwhile, speculation and confusion continues to surround the vote tracking.

Politico reports that a slip of the tongue by Durbin led to some confusion early Friday concerning Lincoln's vote. "'She's told Sen. Reid,' (Durbin) told reporters Friday. 'You will have to ask Sen. Reid.'" Durbin then issued a release retracting his statement. "'But Sen. Lincoln has not yet signaled her intention as to how she will vote on tomorrow's cloture motion,'" according to the release (Budoff Brown, 11/20).

The Hill: Indeed, "Lincoln's spokeswoman pushed back against Durbin's remarks in an email to The Hill. 'No other Senator speaks for Senator Lincoln. She is still reviewing the bill,' wrote Katie Laning Niebaum" (Young, 11/20).

In related news, CNN reports that Senate Democrats are slamming Republicans "as leaders of a counterproductive party of fear caught in an obstructionist mindset dating back to the New Deal" for opposing their health care reform bill. "The harsh rhetoric served as a backdrop for a rare Saturday night Senate vote on whether to formally proceed with floor debate on Senate Majority Leader" (11/20).

Republicans struck back, the Los Angeles Times reports. "'Time after time, I have advocated putting partisan difference aside,' Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyoming) said this morning. 'The majority drafted a flawed bill that spends too much, does too little to cut healthcare costs and puts senior benefits on the chopping block'" (Muskal, 11/20).