Politics

Bill Nelson Helps Kill Strong "Public Option"

If all of this talk about Charlie Crist facing an electoral backlash from the right wing of his party in his quest for a Senate seat amounts to anything, Sen. Bill Nelson should perhaps worry about a backlash from Florida's progressive and liberally inclined voters.Nelson has basically called supporters of the...

By Kyle Munzenrieder

September 29, 2009

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If all of this talk about Charlie Crist facing an electoral backlash from the right wing of his party in his quest for a Senate seat amounts to anything, Sen. Bill Nelson should perhaps worry about a backlash from Florida's progressive and liberally inclined voters.

Nelson has basically called supporters of the public option in the health-care debate ignorant, and he's put a nail in the coffin of one of the stronger public option amendments in consideration.

Nelson sits on the Senate Finance Committee, which is crafting a health-care bill under chairman Max Baucus, a moderate Democrat from Montana.

Sen. John D. Rockefeller IV of West Virginia offered an amendment to the plan that would include a strong public option, but it was defeated 15-8. Nelson, Baucus, and three other Democrats joined Republicans to defeat the amendment.

A second amendment that includes a weaker public option for health care is now being discussed. Nelson, however, has emerged as a supporter of the "co-op" system after remaining deafeningly silent on the issue throughout the summer.

[WaPo: Senate Finance Committee Rejects Public Option Amendment]

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