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| Obama healthcare plan nixes Ben Nelson's 'Cornhusker Kickback' deal |
| 2010-02-23 |
| President Barack Obama's healthcare reform proposal released Monday eliminates controversial funds given to Nebraska as part of a deal to win the support of centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D). Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) offered the $100 million in Medicaid funding, also known as the "Cornhusker Kickback," to Nelson to help win him over as the 60th vote on the Senate's healthcare reform bill last December. But the deal eventually backfired. During merger negotiations with the Senate, House leaders said the "kickback" was an unfair deal struck for Nebraska that was not available to other states and was given only to attract Nelson's support. Republicans also slammed the Nebraska deal, saying it was an example of Reid's secretive, backroom negotiation style that violated President Obama's call for transparency during the healthcare debate. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #6 Nelson has turned into quit the Nebraska conservative. He could vote against the new spending because he had cover from the republicans, and he had the payoff hidden so his conservative Nebraskan's would think he has reformed. |
| Posted by: bman 2010-02-23 11:12 |
| #5 ...that meet narrowly defined language that is Um, language like State Names must start with NEB and LOU and FLA, otherwise no pork. |
| Posted by: AlanC 2010-02-23 10:53 |
| #4 Actually, the O-Team plan doesn’t eliminate the Nebraska funds. But rather, it extends the same Medicare funds to all States that qualify – thus negating exclusivity. This brings the scheme more in line with the carve outs for the Louisiana disaster relief and the Florida Medicare Advantage exception. In other words, the funds are available to all states – all states that meet narrowly defined language that is. |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2010-02-23 10:19 |
| #3 What about the Louisiana miracle? That coming out too? |
| Posted by: AlanC 2010-02-23 08:59 |
| #2 every thing that he touches turns to crap...even the Wizard was only able to fool Dorthy for so long. |
| Posted by: HammerHead 2010-02-23 08:28 |
| #1 Barry put the 'fix' in, he can take the 'fix' out. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2010-02-23 03:06 |