Ben Nelson can Feel the Heat

The Wall Street Journal reports these headlines: "Heat Rises on Nebraska's Nelson...Senator Launches Ad Campaign at Home to Defend Key Vote on Health Bill." On the surface, this seems like odd headlines for a person who just figured out how to permanently provide "free health insurance" for his constituents.

The article points out that "Mr. Nelson, who faces re-election in 2012, backed the Senate health-care bill only after lengthy talks in which he won agreement that the federal government would permanently cover the full cost in Nebraska of expanding Medicaid, the federal-state health program for the poor." His vote was crucial in getting the controversial bill through the US Senate. Nelson's vote has drawn criticism from around the country and close to home. Sen. Lindsey Graham, a moderate Republican noted for his tolerance of liberal actions called Nelson's vote "sleazy." The Senator's own governor, Dave Heineman, has been critical of the circumstance behind the bill's passage, stating on Fox News that "The responsibility for this special deal lies solely on the shoulders of Senator Ben Nelson." He is now said to be considering running against Nelson in 2012.

The damage for the bill has been significant. In Nebraska, a Dec. 28 Rasmussen poll showed Heineman, who opposes the bill, soundly beating Mr. Nelson in a theoretical 2012 match-up, 61% to 30%. This is devastating to Nelson, who is 68 years old and was last re-elected in 2006 with 64% of the vote.

The Democrats are in trouble when it comes to the health care bill in general and that legislation will likely serve as a referendum in the 2012 elections. A Wall Street Journal/NBC News poll in December found that 44% to 41% of Americans prefer the health system as it is to the Democrats' health overhaul. The bill is so bad that they cannot even give it away for free in Nebraska.There will be much debate over the sudden decline in Nelson's popularity. It could be because the people of Nebraska are like the rest of the nation who are opposed to rationed or socialized care. Some of them may understand the Constitutional obligations of a US Senator and believe he violated his legal mandate by supporting this bill that is without legitimacy. I believe that Nelson should have learned a lesson from George McGovern, the candidate who lost the 1972 race for the Presidency by a landslide. In the early part of 1972 McGovern was doing very well in his race against Richard Nixon, until he placed on his platform the redistribution of $1,000 to individuals who made less than $5,000 a year. $5,000 does not seem like much now, but at the time it was a huge sum of money. In fact, that described a majority of Americans at the time. But the vast majority of them believed they would make more than that some day. Furthermore, in spite of the weak morals of our elected officials and deep seated cynicism in the way they judge their constituents, I believe most Americans are not mere free loaders eager to get on the welfare dole. The people of Nebraska are hard working and do not want to be seen as dependents on the rest of the country. Nelson's dim view of his voters will likely provide grim results for him in 2012.


Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.

Making 2010 a great year for America

So we are starting a new year. All of us have our personal aspirations. Some are seeking a new job, others want new business opportunities, others still want to make major purchases for their home or companies. Than there are those who simply want good things for themselves and those they love. I also think that people, more than we have seen in years, have hopes and dreams for this country. That is certainly the case with me. Below are some of my personal desires for the country this year. It is a really small list in light of how great our national need, but it would be an excellent beginning.

• That members of Congress would get a healthy sense of fear starting right now. The Democrats seem like people in a trance, with no sense of reality or consequence. Their agenda seems more important to them than their careers and, certainly, their constituents. Meanwhile, the Republicans blindly see the conservative revolt as its movement, when many of these angry voters would be likely to vote for a candidate under the "Tea Party" banner than the GOP. The Democrats need to come to their senses and weigh the damage they are doing to both the country and themselves. Meanwhile, the Republican party should be made up of people in repentance because they have been a part of the problem and not the solution.
• That there is a major shift in the US House and Senate races to candidates who support liberty. This does not seem likely in the US Senate because of the number of states that lean towards smaller government being up for reelection and are more vulnerable. However, I expect the US House to actually have a new Speaker. It is my hope that leader is not just another Republican.
• That more Americans hold their elected officials accountable. There is an old adage that seems to be true that "people hate Congress, but love their elected member of Congress." For the vast majority of people their members of Congress are the problem. If your member of Congress is not honoring his or her oath of office to defend the Constitution, make that person have to look for other employment.
• That the states demand for the restoration of its rights. We are seeing more states argue against the national government's rapid and unconstitutional expansion. Thirteen state Attorneys General, led by South Carolina Attorney General Henry McMaster, have recently notified US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and US Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid and informed them that the Obamacare proposal is unconstitutional and that they intend to fight it every step of the way. Specifically, they warned in the letter to the congressional leaders that legal action may result if they do not remove the unconstitutional "Cornhusker Kickback" Medicaid provision inserted into the senate health care bill to secure the vote of Nebraska US Senator Ben Nelson.
• That provision allows Nebraska to have the benefits of the socialized health care program without paying for it. We have also had governors cite Article I, Section 8 and the Tenth Amendment of the Constitution to remind the federal government of its proper role. In addition to states fighting back, I would love them to win these battles in the courts.
• That America's international prestige would be restored and our troops would be protected. As Obama tried to figure out the US strategy in Afghanistan, we saw our troop casualties double last year. This President is far more dangerous to our friends and our armies than to its obvious enemies. I hope that does not remain the case in 2010.
  

This is a short list, but imagine if we could accomplish these few things alone? 2010 could be remembered as a very good year. One that set the groundwork for the restoration of this great Republic.

Kevin Price is a syndicated columnist whose articles frequently appear at ChicagoSunTimes.com, Reuters.com, USAToday.com, and other national media. Kevin Price is Host of the Price of Business (M-F at 11 AM on CNN 650) and Publisher of the Houston Business Review. Hear the show live and online at PriceofBusiness.com. Visit the archive of past shows here.