As he postures in advance of his uphill reelection bid, Democrat Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) routinely preaches the importance of fiscal responsibility and even said just days ago that “I support a balanced budget and am in favor of a balanced budget amendment.”
However, it’s been 814 days since Ben Nelson and his fellow Senate Democrats have proposed any federal budget, much less the balanced budget Nelson promised to support.
And today, Nelson voted with his Washington party bosses against even considering a measure to balance the federal budget while cutting runaway spending now and capping Washington’s spending in the future – just the latest in a long pattern of Nelson putting his party bosses’ liberal Washington agenda ahead of keeping his promises to Nebraskans.
“Nebraskans are no doubt wondering how Senator Nelson explains his vote today in light of his claim just days ago to support a balanced budget in Washington,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox today. “Nelson can’t have it both ways – he either supports balancing Washington’s budget, or he doesn’t.”
Since coming to Washington, Nelson has routinely abandoned his previous support for fiscal responsibility, instead choosing to rubberstamp President Barack Obama’s reckless spending agenda – including the failed $787 billion stimulus and $2 trillion health care overhaul.
NELSON HAS REPEATEDLY EXPRESSED SUPPORT FOR A BALANCED BUDGET AMENDMENT
NELSON: “It’s Not Easy To Do, But During Eight Years As Governor I Balanced The State Budgets Without Raising Taxes By Making Tough Choices When It Came To Spending. Now As A U.S. Senator I’m Trying To Insert That Value Into Washington Spending …” (Senator Ben Nelson, “Column: Washington Needs Nebraska Values When It Comes To Spending,” Press Release, 6/28/10)
In 2011, Nelson Voted For A Sense Of The Senate Supporting Consideration Of A Balanced Budget Amendment. “Lee, R-Utah, amendment no. 115 that would express the sense of the Senate supporting consideration of an amendment to the Constitution to require a balanced budget.” (S. 23, CQ Vote #30: Rejected 58-40: R 47-0; D 10-39; I 1-1, 3/2/11, Nelson Voted Yea)
