« BACK  |  PRINT

RS

MEMBER DIARY

Blanche Lincoln: Nelson’s Deal Should be Dropped

By: Brian Faughnan (Diary)  |  January 6th, 2010 at 02:39 PM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

Ben Nelson said he never asked for Harry Reid to give Nebraska more funding for Medicaid, and now Blanche Lambert Lincoln says that bribe should be deleted from any final health care bill:

U.S. Sen. Blanche Lincoln said a political deal that benefits Nebraska and may have clinched a lawmaker’s support for health care legislation should be removed from the bill.

The Democratic senator from Arkansas on Tuesday said she was disappointed about a provision in the Senate’s health care bill that will require the federal government to permanently pay the entire cost of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska, while only paying the costs of expansion in the other 49 states for three years.

Conservative Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson lent his crucial support to the bill only after winning the provision for his constituents.

“The people of Arkansas didn’t send me to Washington to be a horse trader,” Lincoln told reporters before speaking at a Kiwanis Club luncheon in downtown Little Rock.

Lincoln did not say whether she would support a final version of the health care legislation if it included the Nebraska agreement. Lincoln, who voted for the health care legislation on Christmas Eve, faces a tough re-election battle this year and has faced criticism from Republicans over her support for the bill.

First off, let’s not get too excited about the prospect of Blanche Lincoln actually voting against the health care overhaul. If she was really brave enough to kill the bill, she likely would have done so before it passed the Senate. Having gone in for a penny, she’s likely in for the full pound.

But given that she was so prominently bribed herself, why would she now choose to attack someone else’s bribe? She has to recognize that if payoffs start getting deleted from the bill, hers will be among the first to go.

So why is Lincoln speaking up? It may simply be that she’s not very bright she was just trying to play the populist outsider in front of a local Kiwanis Club, not realizing that her comments would attract national attention. Or, is she trying to start a fight among competing constituencies now to bring the bill down before she’s forced to pull a Dorgan?

If so, she better realize the right tack probably isn’t the Medicaid deal for Nebraska. Harry Reid will be only too happy to have Uncle Sam pick up the full cost of the Medicaid expansion for all states in order to get a deal done. Heck, he might be forced to do so already, anyway. It’ll be too expensive to include in the health care overhaul itself; it’ll have to be part of a separate bill down the road. But is there any reason to think Reid won’t be eager to federalize Medicaid if that’s what he has to do to keep his conference happy?

Tags: , , ,

COMMENTS

POSTING RULES  |  LOGIN TO COMMENT  |  REGISTER TODAY
  • Repair_Man_Jack

    I almost think this gawdawful contraption will fall down around their ears. It’s almost like the end of The Stand where Trashcan Man brings the nuke into Randall Flagg’s casino….

    The Dems really could shoot themselves in the pelvic region on this one. What can we do to facilitate this self-immolation?

    • cari

      This is a perfect time for this thing to blow up- while all the Dems are gathered around it behind closed doors.

      I have 2 Repubs for senators, but if those from Dem represented states start demanding that their state get a sweet deal, too, maybe that will hasten a Dem on Dem fight.

      • edwlstr

        I cannot (no money left, my 401K is now a 201K). They may also try to hide. It will do them no good. There are Americans who feel what they have done to the cause of freedom should be punished. Treason calls for a firing squad. May I please serve on the team? There is change and hope!! They have changed the fundamental nature of my country moving it much closer to socialism, and the people are just hoping to be able to feed their kids. I would suggest you liberal democrats find a safer place to live. America ain’t gonna welcome you home when you retire!! Just sign me a conservative, pro-life, veterans, radical extremist, And I have had ENOUGH!!

    • vanekl

      If the MSM wanted to kill the bill it wouldn’t be too difficult. As soon as the far-left figures out that they are being cut out of the deal, put a mic in front of far-left congressional faces until one of them takes the bait and starts whining. If the internal intra-party dispute goes public Nancy and Harry wont be able to hold it together — too many promises have already been made.

  • Swamp_Yankee

    nt

  • http://guyaverage.blogspot.com guyaverage

    It is NOT the “federal government” that is paying for Medicaid expansion, it is the TAXPAYER.

    What Senator Lincoln says, and the way she says it, indicates part of the level of disconnect from reality that happens in Washington DC.

    Memo to DC: The Taxpayers pay ALL the bills. The “federal government” just uses our money.

    • USNJIMRET

      But the, when every dollar they talk about spending is borrowed from China, or India, or someone, I guess the actual dollar being ‘spent’ isn’t from the American taxpayer……………………………..yet.
      Still, I am constantly amazed, and greatly discouraged, when the common folk of the country seem to believe that Federal money is some kind of magical genie bank, make a wish, tap your heels and *poof* more free money!
      Denial is such a wonderful place to hang out in.

      • Spartan4Life

        It was one of those CYA letters explaining why he had voted for the bill and all the good it was going to do for us hayseeds here in Arkansas. He actually took credit for saving every Arkansan that has health insurance $1,000 in the “hidden” tax that is included in our premiums to pay for the uninsured. He said it was going to save something like $653M for Arkansas alone.

        I guess we can expect to get those rebate checks from our insurance company any day now, eh, Senator? What a bunch of buffoons.

  • JadedByPolitics

    votes to pass finally RIGHT? I am unsure of the final process someone please enlighten me so that I may have some comfort in these little tidbits of sunlight…thanks!

    • Brian Faughnan

      Any changes to the bill would require Reid to pull together 60 votes to break a filibuster. Anything that forces the bill back to the Senate needs 60.

      The only way to avoid another 60 vote hurdle is to simply have the House pass the Senate bill as is. And they may ultimately be forced to go that route.

      • vanekl

        > And they may ultimately be forced to go that route.

        There’s going to be at least one more vote in the Senate. Nancy is miffed that the Senate’s version of the bill is being used as the base-bill, and, on top of that, she doesn’t have the votes in the House to pass the Senate version until Stupak is added.

  • izoneguy

    Including Dodds $100,000,000 hospital fund….

    Then let’s see if Obama can make “history”…..

  • bk

    So she can still vote for the monstrosity while whining about it.

    • Repair_Man_Jack

      The bidding war will ignite once this gets behind closed doors. Each deal gets more expensive, each one sets a new price floor. Expect Sen Webb, Sen. Bayh and maybe even Sen, Warner to start growing new doubts….

      That doesn’t even start to address what Pro-Life House Democrats will cost…

  • http://www.nighttwister.com NightTwister

    these Democrats are convinced that over 52% of the voters are stupid.

    Oh.

    Never mind.

    • voxoreason

      When people who pay no taxes (but perhaps get a monthly check for not doing so) are asked if they think taxes are too low, too high, or just about right, they tend to answer, “just about right.”

      When a functional majority of voters pay no taxes, their votes are assured.

      One can only hope that these people don’t vote this year since Obama isn’t on the ticket. Then again, the dems have to do their usual “it’s an election year, so your concerns are of great concern to me” dance in acknowledgment of their base.

      Wonder how that new higher minimum wage thing is working out for those who weren’t worth the OLD minimum wage?

      I don’t think that John Galt is hiring. Maybe he would barter if you have something he needs.

  • http://www.veronicaestrada.com/ Veronica Estrada
  • E Pluribus Unum
    • yoyo
  • orangemtl

    If these Congressional parasites had any insight as to the current mood of the electorate along with some plans to survive politically, the supporting Democrats (all) and collaborating Republicans (several) would find every excuse to kill this vile monstorsity of a bill.
    ….but then, if they had insight as to the will and interests of the country, they’d perhaps have chosen ACTUAL productive fields of employment instead of feeding off the public for decades—isn’t that right, Senator Dorgan?
    I hope they don’t change a thing. Easier for the electorate to identify the people to eliminate in the lections, come November (no “We heard you and we responded” excuses, once this thing is law). Also easier for Republicans, if they (we) get it together to make this a unifying issue.

  • snopercod

    “The people of Arkansas didn?t send me to Washington to be a horse trader”

    No, they sent you to Washington to be a horses a$$.

    • loupgarou1317

      THAT THIS Arkansan did NOT vote for her EVER!

      • joliefleurs

        I always felt like she had the best interests of Arkansas at heart. I have sent her scathing emails, and got very long, thoughtful responses back. Form responses, of course, but there was obvious care and thought put into them.

        I was very disappointed when she caved on this issue, to say the least.

  • crosley

    I truly believe that much of this healthcare bill will simply never go into effect, that Democrats will have sacrificed their careers for nothing. It won’t be necessarily because Republicans take over, it’s just not financially feasible, period.

    These mandated Medicaid expansions are simply unaffordable, and even Democrat Governors have come forward and said so. You’re talking about adding trillions of dollars in additional spending to already bankrupt state budgets.

    When parts of this bill start going into effect, you’ll see a battle between laying off teachers and firefighters and raising taxes versus keeping ObamaCare. You’re going to have a 80% coalition of conservatives, Democrat government employees, and independent voters that will demand the bill is reformed or repealed.

    • proudmarinemom

      Please consider writing a diary expanding your thoughts.

      Most Americans STILL don’t get it. They do not understand that they will not see any benefits at all until Obama’s dust is seen drifting across the Beltway as he heads off into the Hawai’ ian sunset. By then, they’ll be taxed half to death and so confused by the bureaucratic tangle of regulations, they won’t know what hit them.

      Why aren’t the Republican “leaders” going on CNN, screaming this message??? It just makes no sense that the right is wasting this opportunity.

      Stoopid stoopid stoopid.

  • sallyal

    But didn’t Nelson say that he would ask for the provision to be removed if needed to pass the bill? After all, even his governor doesn’t want it.

    Also, sorry to show my ignorance but could someone tell me what “nt” means and 5? Thanks.

  • sallyal

    ROLL TIDE ROLL!!!

  • earlgrey

    Hot air is reporting that Nancy Pelosi says they are “very close” to adeal with the Senate. Today it felt like the thing was imploding, but now that hope is gone.

  • http://www.bearcreekledger.com toni100

    If you see Pelosi’s lips moving that means she’s lying.

    • earlgrey

      That is a good point

    • conritwng

      We caught her in a big one in Russelville…loved it !She looked like a deer caught in the headlights .
      Blanche is doing what ever the left tells her to do .We have been screaming for her to vote No to this garbage since day one. These asses in DC think the Constitution is useless . Looks like half of America does too. So why waste time using it? We’ll keep bugging her office just to annoy her staff

  • sarge324

    this is a big show.she is trying to save her self.she is a far left party line hack.has any left party liner looked at the bill before voting on it.the answer is no.thats how much they are thinking of their people.thats the trouble in the democartic party today,its not about the people they could care less,its about the party.stay mad in 2010,and put the constitution in the for front of american law.

  • TxCon

    What a joke. Being pro-life does not necessarily make one a conservative.

  • TxCon

    What a joke. Being pro-life does not necessarily make one a conservative.

    • conritwng

      There is NO such thing since Zell MIller retired and George Wallace died

  • http://www.voteforteri2010.com teridavisnewman

    Blanche Lincoln is never going to be re-elected because of her support of this bill. Mary Landrieu is also gone with the wind that blew through Louisiana. Dodd is also finished because he was in bed with the CEO of Countrywide and gave the lame excuse that he thought his sweetheart mortgage deal was “like frequent flier miles” type of gratuity. Let me make this clear Chris–if NO ONE who isn’t addressed as “Senator” and isn’t YOU gets the deal; then it’s a bribe–let me spell it out for you: B-R-I-B-E! I can’t believe he got away without being ARRESTED for it by the FBI!! He and Reid are looking for ambassadorships since they know they’ll never be elected to public office again! Harry Reid is finished as a Senator and he knows it. The people of Nevada, who tolerate legal whorehouses, find Harry Reid to be such a piece of scum that he will not be re-elected. This is such an insult to Reid that I don’t know how he can look in mirror–not that the people of Nevada are wrong, he is not fit to be a doorman at a brothel. If the people of Nancy Pelosi’s district would do the same, America would be a lot better off.
    In the season celebrating the birth of Jesus, Harry the brown-nosed reindeer and his corrupt buddies Dodd, Landrieu, Nelson, Lincoln, Prancer, Dancer, Donner and Blitzen screwed over the entire American citizenry to get even for his future public comeuppance when the voters of Nevada toss him out of office in November. This health care bill is going to bankrupt America and we will have hyperinflation reminiscent of Germany in the 20s and everyone’s savings and retirement funds will be destroyed. Having a million dollars put away for retirement won’t mean a thing when bread is $100 a loaf. The media better get their lips off the Obamasiah’s clard and start doing their jobs which they will start doing when are suffering right along with the rest of us.
    However, Reid knows that he is finished in ELECTED office so he is doing the bidding of the Obamunists in the hopes (or perhaps the promise) of an appointment to another office. I find it supremely ironic that in a state where prostitutes ply their trade legally and openly; their biggest whore is in the Senate.
    I promise that my very first deed when I am elected to the House in November will be to sponsor and submit a bill to repeal this nightmare that Congress has foisted onto the American public. I’m taking the fight to the house and I will fight like tooth and nail for America. I’m not a meek shrinking little mouse-girl, I’m a pit bull with a manicure and a mission!! I will do whatever I have to do in order to take back America for Americans! Join me in my fight to help save our great nation from becoming a Socialist third-world country!

    • salty

      …read your website and found it refreshing. We need more plain-spoken people like you. Best of luck

  • irbobert

    If you combined the smarts of Obama, Pelosi and Reid — they would actually believe that to make a blanket a foot longer, they could cut a foot off of one end and sew onto the other end.