More Bad News For Bill Nelson As ObamaCare Approval Hits An All-Time Low

As Democrat Senator Bill Nelson struggles to defend his decision to vote in favor of ObamaCare – which has forced two healthcare providers to leave Florida – a Kaiser Family Foundation healthcare tracking poll shows that both Nelson and President Obama have even greater reason to fear Florida voters at the polls next year: their 2,700 page, $2.5 trillion health care law is less popular than ever.

The poll’s summary and toplines show a bleak picture for Nelson, Obama, and their fellow Washington Democrats:

• Overall favorability of the law stands at 34%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of very favorable support stands at 12%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think they personally will be better off due to the law stands at a mere 18%, an all-time low;
• The percentage of respondents who think the country as a whole will be better off due to the law stands at 28%, an all-time low;
• Approval of the law among Democrats dropped by 13% in the last month to only 52%, an all-time low.

“As approval for ObamaCare hits an all-time low, Floridians will remember that Bill Nelson voted to ram it into law,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox today.  “When will Nelson finally acknowledge the reality that his and Obama’s health care debacle is so unpopular because of its onerous mandates, harmful results to Florida’s patients and doctors, and tremendous cost to Florida taxpayers?” 

Nelson insists that ObamaCare will create jobs, but today there are 976,000 unemployed Floridians.  Additionally, the U.S. Senate Finance and U.S. House Energy and Commerce Committees released a joint report earlier this year, estimating that ObamaCare’s Medicaid spending mandates alone will cost states at least $118 billion through the first decade of full implementation (through 2013).  Specifically, the report reveals that Nelson’s new mandates will cost Florida $12.9 billion over five years. 

Background Information: 

Nelson: “It Has Been Said By Many Folks In Many Different Ways That We Are Not Put On Earth For Ourselves, But We Are Placed Here For Each Other. Well, Here We Are, And Here We Are Debating Legislation That Stands To Improve The Lives Of Tens Of Millions Of Americans. So Despite Its Flaws, I Will Vote To Pass This Legislation.” (Senator Bill Nelson, Congressional Record, S1962-1963, 3/24/10)

Nelson Called The Health Care Law “A Job Creator.” “Nelson took exception to claims that federal health-care legislation passed last year is undermining the economy. ‘It’s a job creator,’ Nelson insisted, arguing that the Congressional Budget Office claims the new health care law would save $250 billion in the next 10 years and $1 trillion in the following decade.” (Kevin Derby, “Bill Nelson Talks Politics And Policy In Tallahassee,” Sunshine State News, 1/20/11)