According to Kerrey’s hometown newspaper, he personally spoke with Ben Nelson and convinced him to support the bill and Nelson proceeded to make a backroom deal – commonly known as the Cornhusker Kickback – with Senate Democrat Leader Harry Reid.

As The New York Times reports:

Kerrey Spoke To Ben Nelson About Health Care Reform Days Before The Vote. “To help divine Mr. Nelson’s thinking, a wide array of Democrats have reached out to him in recent days, including former Senators Tom Daschle of South Dakota and Bob Kerrey of Nebraska. In the calls, Mr. Nelson has not disclosed how he is leaning, but his friends say they can sense the pressure he is facing.” (Jeff Zeleny and Robert Pear, “A Race To Woo The 60^th Vote For Health Bill,” The New York Times, 12/18/09)

Notably, Kerrey once said the longer he lives in Greenwich Village, the more liberal he gets on government-run healthcare.

“Not only did liberal New York Democrat Bob Kerrey say he would’ve voted for ObamaCare, he personally told Ben Nelson to vote for the massive takeover of healthcare,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Jahan Wilcox.  “Between the intrusive mandates and the massive cuts to Medicare, it’s clear Kerrey is just as responsible as Ben Nelson for making ObamaCare the law of the land.”   

The post Bob Kerrey Told Ben Nelson To Vote For ObamaCare appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Nelson voted this evening in support of the Buffett Tax increase which according to the Wall Street Journal does virtually nothing to the national deficit, and does nothing to create a single job or lower gas prices.  Additionally, newspapers, economists and political commentators around the country have derided this vote as “total gimmickry,” “a ruse,” “a publicity stunt,” “a hoax,” and “a sham.”

“The Buffett Tax doesn’t create a single Nebraska job, it does nothing to lower our gas prices, and it does virtually nothing to put a dent in our government’s debt, yet Bob Kerrey is ecstatic about this political stunt,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  

BACKGROUND …

The Buffett Tax Creates Zero Jobs

THE BUFFETT TAX WOULD CREATE ZERO NEW JOBS.  On the seventh and final page of its background report on the “Buffett Rule,” out this morning, the Obama administration finally dives into what it calls “the economic rationale” for imposing a new minimum tax rate on millionaires. If you’re an unemployed American, that placement should be your first red flag. The second should be the rationale itself.  Once you read it, you’ll realize the Buffett Rule has nothing to do with helping you, or the 13 million other Americans looking for work as of March, find a job. (Jim Tankersley, The Buffett Rule Won’t Get You a Job, National Journal, 04/10/12) 

BUFFETT TAX GIMMICK WOULD INCREASE REVENUE BY “LESS THAN ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT OF THE $1.2 TRILLION BUDGET DEFICIT” (0.1%): “This year, the Buffett rule would increase federal revenues by all of $1.1 billion. That’s less than one-tenth of one percent of the $1.2 trillion budget deficit Mr. Obama is scheduled to run this year. Through 2022 Joint Tax expects less than $47 billion in total new revenues from the Buffett rule while the government will be adding trillions of dollars to the national debt. Joint Tax even concedes, as it is rarely wont to do, that the rule will affect taxpayer behavior: By raising the effective tax rate on capital gains, the rule will encourage people to realize fewer capital gains.” (Editorial, “The Bottom 0.1%,” The Wall Street Journal, 3/22/2012) 

Nonpartisan Reviewers Have Derided The Buffett Tax As ‘A Hoax On Voters,’ A ‘Total Sham,’ ‘Desperate.’ And Even Democrats Admit It’s ‘Not Going To Help’

BILL KELLER, THE NEW YORK TIMES: “…sounds a little desperate.” (Bill Keller, “The Sweet Spot,” The New York Times, 4/15/12) 

CANDY CROWLEY, CNN: “…won’t do much to eat away at the nation’s debt, it won’t create jobs, and no one expects it to get through the Democratic-controlled Senate…” (Candy Crowley, “Buffett Rule Would Barely Dent Debt But Fits Nicely Into Obama’s Theme,” CNN, 4/16/12) 

MIKA BRZEZINSKI, MSNBC: “…just what does it really accomplish, though?” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/16/12)

DANA MILBANK: “President Obama admits it: His proposed ‘Buffett Rule’ tax on millionaires is a gimmick…” (Dana Milbank, “Rebuffing Obama’s Gimmicky ‘Buffett Rule’,” The Washington Post, 4/11/12) 

BOB SCHIEFFER, CBS: “…kind of a publicity stunt…?” (CBS’ “Face The Nation,” 4/15/12)

JIM VANDEHEI, POLITICO: “It’s total gimmickry. It’s 1% of what you need to actually take care of the deficit.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/12/12)

FMR. REP. HAROLD FORD (D-TN): “…not going to help us grow…” Q: “So you support the Buffett rule? FORD: “No, there’s a big difference between the Buffett rule and reforming the tax code.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/16/12) 

FMR. SEN. RUSS FEINGOLD (D-WI): “My belief is this is more symbolic.” (MSNBC’s “Morning Joe,” 4/16/12)

UNION LEADER [NH]: “…A Total Sham…The Buffett Rule is not about math or fairness or shared sacrifice. It is simply a cynical ploy to buy the votes of the ignorant and gullible.” (Editorial, “The Buffett Rule: A Total Sham,” Union Leader, 4/12/12) 

FOSTER’S DAILY DEMOCRAT [NH]: “Buffett Rule Is A Hoax On Voters … Buffett, schmuffett, President Obama’s Buffett Rule has nothing to do with fairness… It is also about distracting voters from the Obama administration’s mishandling of the economy.” (Editorial, “Buffett Rule Is A Hoax On Voters,” Foster’s Daily Democrat, 4/12/12) 

MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL [WI]: “Buffett Rule Is A Political Gimmick That Won’t Work … the Buffett Rule is more likely to spawn a new generation of tax dodges than to usher in a new era of tax fairness. It is, in fact, nothing more than a smoke screen that obscures the possibility of real tax reform.” (Editorial, “Buffett Rule Is A Political Gimmick That Won’t Work,” Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 4/11/12) 

ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER [CA]: “…the latest gimmick…” (“Taxing Those Mean Old Millionaires,” Orange County Register, 4/12/12) 

THE ECONOMIST: “What a pity that he is changing tack this time, bashing the rich via gimmicks such as the ‘Buffett rule’ … it is a miserable portent for the future.” (Editorial, “Game On,” The Economist, 4/14/12) 

BLOOMBERG NEWS: “The president may be just as happy to have an issue to campaign on as a law to sign.” (“Buffett Rule Or Not, Most Rich People Already Pay,” Bloomberg Businessweek, 4/12/12)

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As former Nebraska Democrat Senator Bob Kerrey turned New York City resident returns to the Cornhusker State, Nebraskans may be surprised to learn where Mr. Kerrey stands on a wide variety of issues, including President Obama’s $2.5 trillion healthcare bill.

What Nebraskans will quickly learn is that not only does Mr. Kerrey support government-run healthcare, but that Kerrey is even more liberal than Ben Nelson on the issue because he supports the government-run public option.  Even more remarkable is that Kerrrey once told a group of New Yorkers that the longer he lives in New York City the further to the left he gets on ObamaCare.

BOB KERREY: “From My Standpoint, It Isn’t Just Because I Live In Greenwich Village Now – The Longer I Live Here, The Further To The Left I Get On Health Care.” (Bob Kerrey, Remarks At Tishman Auditorium, New York City, 9/16/09)

Now that Kerrey is exploring another run for the U.S. Senate, surely he would attempt to mask his position on a healthcare bill that ultimately led to the demise of what was once a very popular two-term Senator from McCook.

That is not the case as earlier this morning, Kerrey doubled down on his support of ObamaCare when he told KFAB News Radio that he opposes a repeal of President Obama’s job-killing healthcare bill.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH THE VIDEO

“As Nebraskans get reacquainted with Bob Kerrey, they’ll be surprised to learn that Kerrey cites his 11 years in New York City as the reason he’s an unabashed supporter of ObamaCare,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Kerrey even supports the public option, which is an ominous sign for a person looking to replace the man who made government-run healthcare the law of the land.”

BACKGROUND …

KERREY SUPPORTED OBAMACARE & THE PUBLIC OPTION

KERREY: “From My Standpoint, It Isn’t Just Because I Live In Greenwich Village Now – The Longer I Live Here, The Further To The Left I Get On Health Care.” (Bob Kerrey, Remarks At Tishman Auditorium, New York City, 9/16/09)

KERREY: “I Really Don’t Get How The Public Option Got Demonized So Badly, And Why It Became So Scary.” (Bob Kerrey, Remarks At Tishman Auditorium, New York City, 9/16/09)

KERREY: “I Don’t Understand Why The Public Option Isn’t Seen For What It Is, Which Is A Nationalization, A Creating Of A National System.” (Bob Kerrey, Remarks At Tishman Auditorium, New York City, 9/16/09)

Kerrey Said If He Were “A Right Wing Governor,” He’d Be For “Socializing” Insurance, And “Creating A Federal System Of Insurance.” KERREY: “So let’s say I’m a right wing governor … I’d be for socializing the insurance part. I’d be for creating a federal system of insurance.” (Bob Kerrey, Remarks At Tishman Auditorium, New York City, 9/16/09)

KERREY THANKED HARRY REID FOR HIS WORK ON OBAMACARE

Kerrey Praised Majority Leader Reid For Taking On Health Care, Saying “We Need More Harry Reids.” “Former Sen. Bob Kerrey, D-Neb., who served during the Clinton administration’s failed health care reform initiative in 1993, said that Reid deserves ‘a tremendous amount of credit’ for taking on ‘the most difficult, the most emotional, and the most complicated issue in politics.’ Kerrey added, ‘We need more Harry Reids.’” (Alexis Simendinger, “Reid Faces His Biggest Test In Health Care Reform,” The National Journal, 11/21/09)

The post Bob Kerrey To The Left Of Even Ben Nelson On ObamaCare appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Today, Nebraskans as still reeling from the devastating effects of this job-killing healthcare law.  For example, The Hill has reported that ObamaCare could soon undermine farmers’ cooperatives, which provides health insurance for thousands of farmers and their families in the Cornhusker State.

Not to mention a recent story from the Des Moines Register found that American Enterprise Group will soon lay off 70 workers in Omaha due to the burdensome regulations of ObamaCare.    

And, a Wall Street Journal report found that the conscience clause in the healthcare law is so weak that it may cause religious organizations to either cut employees or close their doors, because they morally cannot provide contraception services.

Since today is the two-year anniversary of Senator Ben Nelson’s declaration of his support for ObamaCare, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) has released a new web video, titled “Integrity Matters, Ben Nelson.”    

Click The Screenshot Below To View The NRSC’s New Web Video

“Two years ago, Ben Nelson turned his back on Nebraskans and made a backroom deal that enabled him to provide Barack Obama with the 60th and final vote for his job-killing healthcare bill,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “This unfortunate anniversary is just another reminder of Ben Nelson’s decision to support Obama’s big government agenda, instead of standing up for Nebraskans.”        

BACKGROUND …. 

BEN NELSON WAS THE 60th AND FINAL VOTE FOR OBAMACARE

WASHINGTON POST:  “After A Grueling Stretch Of Dealmaking, Reid (D-Nev.) Announced This Weekend That He Had Won The Support Of Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.), Giving Him The 60th Vote, Needed To Overcome A Republican Filibuster.” (Lori Montgomery and Shailagh Murray, “Health Bill Approaches Key Vote In Senate,” The Washington Post, 12/21/09) 

LEGISLATION BEN NELSON SAID WAS GOOD FOR NEBRASKA

SENATOR BEN NELSON:  “This Legislation Is Good For Our Country And Good For Nebraska.” (Senator Ben Nelson, “Nelson Statement On Health Care Deal,” Press Release, 12/19/09) 

BUT TWO YEARS LATER OBAMACARE HAS HAD A DEVASTATING EFFECT ON NEBRASKANS 

THE HILL:  “The healthcare reform law could threaten farmers’ insurance coverage, a group of Senate Democrats said.  The law could undermine farmers’ cooperatives, which provide coverage for thousands of farmers and their families. That threat is an ‘unintended, and unwanted’ side effect of the law’s tax credits, Democrats said.”  (Sam Baker, Senate Dems say health law has unintended consequences for farmers, The Hill, 11/17/11)

DES MOINES REGISTER:  “Des Moines-based American Enterprise Group announced Thursday that it will exit the individual major medical insurance market, making it the 13th company to pull out of some portion of Iowa’s health insurance business since June 2010.  The move means 110 employees will lose their jobs over the next three years — 40 in Des Moines and 70 in Omaha.”  (Iowa insurer exits some individual health policies, Des Moines Register, 10/20/11)

WALL STREET JOURNAL:  “Catholic organizations have ramped up opposition to new federal health-care requirements to cover contraceptive services, saying the rules may prompt them to drop insurance or shut down.”  (Kris Maher, Catholics Fight Health Rules, Wall Street Journal, 09/29/11)

The post NRSC Launches New Web Video: Integrity Matters, Ben Nelson appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

While Senate Republicans ultimately blocked Halligan’s nomination, Nelson’s vote in support came despite questions raised regarding her anti-Second Amendment positions and controversial positions towards prosecuting the war on terror.  The National Rifle Association (NRA), among others, outlined their opposition to Halligan’s nomination, specifically citing — “Our opposition is based on Ms. Halligan’s attacks on the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding Americans.”

Remarkably, Nelson recently said the government has a limited role in regulating the ownership of guns.

“Votes likes this are the difference between politicians like Ben Nelson who like to give lip service to the Second Amendment, versus actually standing up and defending those rights when they’re in Washington,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “Once again, and perhaps when he thought the voters of Nebraska weren’t paying attention, Ben Nelson showed that he would rather stand with Barack Obama, than stand up for Nebraska and our Constitution.”

Flashback … 

Ben Nelson Said Government Has A Limited Role In Regulating The Ownership Of Guns 

Ben Nelson: “As An Avid Hunter, I Believe The Government Has A Limited Role In Regulating The Ownership Of Guns.” (Senator Ben Nelson, “Nelson Speaks Out For Second Amendment Rights,” Press Release, 11/10/09)

The post Ben Nelson Votes To Give Anti-Second Amendment Obama Nominee A Lifetime Appointment To The Federal Bench appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

This all comes on the heels of a letter from virtually every major business organization – including the Chamber of Commerce and the National Federation of Independent Businesses – warning Nelson and his Senate Democrat colleagues that any tax increase would adversely impact job growth.

As the Associated Press reports:

“A Democratic aide also says the Democrats’ revamped payroll tax cut plan will contain a modified set of proposals to offset its cost to the Treasury. It will retain a tax on income exceeding $1 million, though at a lower rate than the 3.25 percent millionaires’ surcharge contained in a proposal that failed in the Senate last week.”  (Andrew Taylor, Democrats drop plan to give tax cut to employers, Associated Press, 12/05/11)

“With our country’s unemployment rate at 8.6 percent, it speaks volumes that Ben Nelson – who has voted in favor of higher taxes over 80 times as a U.S. Senator – would double-down on his permanent new tax hike on Nebraska’s job creators,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “This latest job-killing proposal serves as another painful reminder that once again raising taxes and growing government is more important to Ben Nelson than growing jobs in Nebraska.”

BACKGROUND …   

Jobs Coalition Blasted Obama-Brown Tax Hike Proposal

‘Would Seriously Impair Our Ability’ ‘To Put Our Unemployed Back To Work’

“America’s job creators… are critical to the effort to rebuild our economy and create the jobs necessary to put our unemployed back to work. Unfortunately, the Senate is expected to take up yet another bill that, if enacted, would seriously impair our ability to accomplish that goal.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

• “… the proposal before the Senate is a job killing punitive tax hike that moves our tax code in the exact opposite direction from where we should be going if we want to see job creation and economic growth. Thank you in advance for opposing this job-killing tax increase.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

National Association Of Manufacturers: “The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) … strongly oppose a proposal under consideration that would impose a permanent surtax on individual taxpayers with income over $1 million. Specifically, the proposal before the Senate would impose a permanent anti-growth surtax on top of an already outdated tax code.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Letter To Senators, 11/30/11)

‘4 Out Of 5 Of The Taxpayers Who Will Face This Surtax Are Business Owners’

“Most importantly, the burden of the proposed tax increases would fall disproportionately on the income of America’s small and mid-sized businesses who pay taxes at individual rates.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

• “According to a recently-released Treasury Department study, 392,000 taxpayers reported incomes exceeding $1 million in 2007, 331,000 of those returns included business income, and 311,000 were ‘business owners’ under the Treasury Department’s narrow definition. In short, the Obama Administration’s own data demonstrates that 4 out of 5 of the taxpayers who will face this surtax are business owners – and thus, increasing the tax burden on these business owners will reduce the amount of capital that they would otherwise have available to invest in their company or hire additional workers. In sum, the Senate legislation would raise tax rates on hundreds of thousands of business owners, a job killing tax hike to pay for a bill purported to strive for job creation.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

“The Tax Relief Coalition (TRC), an organization of more than 1,000 trade associations, corporations and advocacy groups …” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

“TRC members represent 1.8 million businesses of all sizes, from every state and from every industry sector – businesses that invest in our economy and create jobs.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11) 

US Chamber Of Commerce

National Federation Of Independent Businesses

National Association Of Manufacturers

National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors

Associated General Contractors

International Foodservice Distributors Association

The post Ben Nelson & The Senate Democrats Double-Down On Their Massive Tax Hike On Nebraska Job Creators appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

Despite warnings from virtually every major business organization in the country that it would adversely impact job growth, U.S. Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) once again voted in lockstep with President Obama last night in support of a permanent new tax on Nebraska job creators.

“At a time when our country is still working to get our economy back on track, it speaks volumes about Ben Nelson’s misplaced priorities that he would vote for a permanent new tax hike on Nebraska’s job creators,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Just as with the $825 billion stimulus and the trillion dollar health care bill, Ben Nelson would rather stand with President Obama, than stand up for Nebraska.”

The Senate last night voted on two separate proposals, both with the common goal of extending the payroll tax cut by one more year for American workers.  But the Democrat proposal, which Nelson voted for, would pay for this temporary tax cut with a permanent tax hike on Nebraska job creators.  While Nelson voted against a Republican proposal that would pay for this tax cut by adopting recommendations to trim the federal government that were put forward by the President’s own fiscal commission.

Nelson voted for this tax hike despite a letter sent by an array of organizations representing Nebraska’s job creators, including the Chamber of Commerce and NFIB, who warned that it “would seriously impair our ability” to put our unemployed back to work.

As the Wall Street Journal writes today:

• Mr. Reid’s surcharge—which would hit incomes of $1 million and above—would slam small business job creators. Congress’s Joint Committee on Taxation estimates that taxpayers will declare about $1.2 trillion of business income in 2013. Only a fraction of those small business owners and Subchapter S companies will have a net income above $1 million, but Joint Tax finds that 34% of that $1.2 trillion is on tax returns with “modified AGI [adjusted gross income] in excess of $1 million.” This means about $400 billion of business income would be subject to Mr. Reid’s profits surtax.  Mr. Obama’s own Treasury Department examined 2007 IRS data and found 392,000 returns with incomes above $1 million. Some 311,000, or more than three out of four, were classified by Treasury as “business owners.”

BACKGROUND ON JOBS COALITION LETTER TO CONGRESSS THIS WEEK….

Jobs Coalition Blasted Obama-Nelson Tax Hike Proposal

‘Would Seriously Impair Our Ability’ ‘To Put Our Unemployed Back To Work’

“America’s job creators… are critical to the effort to rebuild our economy and create the jobs necessary to put our unemployed back to work. Unfortunately, the Senate is expected to take up yet another bill that, if enacted, would seriously impair our ability to accomplish that goal.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

• “… the proposal before the Senate is a job killing punitive tax hike that moves our tax code in the exact opposite direction from where we should be going if we want to see job creation and economic growth. Thank you in advance for opposing this job-killing tax increase.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

National Association Of Manufacturers: “The National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) … strongly oppose a proposal under consideration that would impose a permanent surtax on individual taxpayers with income over $1 million. Specifically, the proposal before the Senate would impose a permanent anti-growth surtax on top of an already outdated tax code.” (National Association Of Manufacturers, Letter To Senators, 11/30/11)

‘4 Out Of 5 Of The Taxpayers Who Will Face This Surtax Are Business Owners’

“Most importantly, the burden of the proposed tax increases would fall disproportionately on the income of America’s small and mid-sized businesses who pay taxes at individual rates.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

• “According to a recently-released Treasury Department study, 392,000 taxpayers reported incomes exceeding $1 million in 2007, 331,000 of those returns included business income, and 311,000 were ‘business owners’ under the Treasury Department’s narrow definition. In short, the Obama Administration’s own data demonstrates that 4 out of 5 of the taxpayers who will face this surtax are business owners – and thus, increasing the tax burden on these business owners will reduce the amount of capital that they would otherwise have available to invest in their company or hire additional workers. In sum, the Senate legislation would raise tax rates on hundreds of thousands of business owners, a job killing tax hike to pay for a bill purported to strive for job creation.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

“The Tax Relief Coalition (TRC), an organization of more than 1,000 trade associations, corporations and advocacy groups …” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11)

“TRC members represent 1.8 million businesses of all sizes, from every state and from every industry sector – businesses that invest in our economy and create jobs.” (Tax Relief Coalition, Letter To Congress, 11/30/11) 

US Chamber Of Commerce

National Federation Of Independent Businesses

National Association Of Manufacturers

National Association Of Wholesaler-Distributors

Associated General Contractors

International Foodservice Distributors Association

The post Ben Nelson Voted For A Massive Tax Hike On Nebraska Job Creators appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

In a 3-3 vote, the Federal Election Commission today refused to legitimize the campaign ad scheme being used by Senator Ben Nelson and national Democrats, and even one Democrat FEC Commissioner said it’s impossible to see this scheme as anything other than an effort to circumvent federal campaign finance limits.

As the New York Times first reported last month: “A new series of political advertisements on behalf of an embattled Nebraska senator could open the door to a flood of similar ads financed by outside groups and even businesses working directly with political candidates — a sharp departure from past practice.”

Today’s FEC’s vote came after the GOP group, American Crossroads, petitioned the Commission seeking permission to engage in the same activity as Senator Nelson and his Democrat friends in Washington.  To date, national Democrats have spent at least $1.25 million in statewide ads to prop-up Nelson’s uphill re-election bid, yet Nelson has bizarrely insisted that they are not “campaign” ads and therefore not subject to the strict coordination limits between national parties and candidates.

But as Politico reports this afternoon:

• Democratic Commissioner Ellen Weintraub pointed to Josefiak’s comments as proof that the request runs afoul of coordination limits. “For me, there’s no way to get around the conclusion, therefore that this is a fully coordinated communication with candidates who are running for reelection and it is for the purpose of enhancing their electoral prospects,” she said.

“It speaks volumes that even Nelson’s fellow Democrats on the Federal Election Commission aren’t willing to sign off on his transparent efforts to circumvent federal campaign finance laws,” National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Brian Walsh said today.  “Unfortunately just like we saw with the Cornhusker Kickback during the health care debate, Senator Nelson seems to believe a different set of rules should apply to him when it comes to doing the right thing.” 

The post FEC Refuses To Legitimize Ben Nelson Campaign Ad Scheme appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

In 2009, Senator Ben Nelson provided Democrats with the 60^th and final vote in favor of President Obama’s $2.5 trillion government-run health care bill after cutting a backroom deal – which has often been referred to as the Cornhusker Kickback – with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). 

Nearly two years later, it’s now been reported that due to ObamaCare, small business are now paying more money to provide healthcare to their employees.  Additionally, some employers will soon drop their employees’ healthcare coverage once the law completely takes effect in 2014, which breaks President Obama’s promise that Nebraskans who like their healthcare plan would be able to keep it.

As the Omaha World-Herald reports: 

Employers in a new survey expect health benefit costs to rise 7.1 percent in Nebraska and 4.6 percent in Iowa next year, even though at least half of them plan to trim benefits or switch coverage to control costs.  That’s on top of increases this year of 3.7 percent in Nebraska and 7.7 percent in Iowa, according to employers who responded to the survey. …  Mark Whiting, [principal with Mercer Health & Benefits] said an earlier Mercer survey indicated that the new federal health care law has added between 2 percent and 5 percent to employers’ health benefit costs so far, such as the expense of extending coverage to dependents up to age 26. … The Mercer survey also asked companies whether they would drop their employee health plans in 2014, when the federal health care law will set up insurance exchanges. Employees who can’t get coverage from their employers will be able to get coverage at the exchanges.  Of the employers in the survey, 13 percent in Nebraska and 15 percent in Iowa said they were likely or very likely to drop their health benefits once the insurance exchanges begin operations.” (Steve Jordon, Health benefits to cost more in 2012, Omaha-World Herald, 11/17/11)    

Notably, when Nelson cast the deciding vote for government-run healthcare he said the legislation was good for Nebraska and promised it would lower costs and provide better healthcare for the American people.

CLICK HERE TO HEAR BEN NELSON

“When Ben Nelson cut a backroom deal and provided Barack Obama with the 60th and final vote for his job-killing government-run healthcare bill, he promised the legislation would lower costs.  But today small business owners in Nebraska are forced to pay more money due to the law,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) spokesman Jahan Wilcox.  “Unfortunately, this is just another consequence of Ben Nelson’s decision to support Obama’s big government agenda, instead of standing up for Nebraskans.”     

The post Ben Nelson’s Decision To Make ObamaCare The Law Of The Land Has Increased The Cost Of Healthcare appeared first on NRSC - National Republican Senatorial Committee.

WASHINGTON — When Senator Ben Nelson first came to Washington in January 2001, the federal debt stood at $5.7 trillion; a figure which took over 200 years for our country to reach.  Yet, just ten years later, and particularly over the last three years, as Ben Nelson has rubber-stamped every major spending initiative proposed by President Obama, the federal debt has now hit the once-unfathomable mark of $15 trillion – a 163 percent increase and more than $48,000 for every American man, woman and child.

To mark the United States Treasury reaching the $15 trillion debt mark today and to highlight the massive spending by Senator Nelson and President Obama that has led to this point, the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) released a new web video – “$15,000,000,000,000…Siriously”

“As a candidate for the Senate, Ben Nelson talked about the importance of fiscal responsibility, but since coming to Washington he and his fellow Democrats have used the federal treasury like their own personal credit card,” NRSC spokesman Jahan Wilcox said today.  “As he prepares to face Nebraska voters next year, Senator Nelson will have to explain why he’s rubberstamped President Obama’s reckless spending agenda, including his failed stimulus and government health care bill, instead of focusing on creating jobs and growing our economy.”

Click Here To Watch The NRSC’s New Video

$15,000,000,000,000… Siriously

BACKGROUND…. 

THE NATIONAL DEBT HAS HIT THE $15 TRILLION MARK 

The National Debt Is Now $15.0 Trillion Dollars. (US Department Of The Treasury, TreasuryDirect.gov, Accessed 11/16/11)

Since President Obama Took Office And Senate Democrats Rubberstamped His Spending Agenda, The National Debt Has Risen $4.4 Trillion, An Increase Of Over 41 Percent. (US Department Of The Treasury, TreasuryDirect.gov, Accessed 11/16/11)

HOW MUCH IS $15 TRILLION?

$15 Trillion Is More Than The Value Of All The Goods And Services Produced In The United States Last Year. (“Gross Domestic Product,” Bureau Of Economic Analysis, BEA.gov, Accessed 11/3/11)

In FY2010, The Bureau Of Engraving And Printing Produced $974 Million Worth Of Currency. At That Rate, It Would Take 15,400 Years To Print $15 Trillion. (“Annual Production Figures,” Bureau Of Engraving And Printing, Accessed 11/3/11)

·         It Would Take The Average Household Over 300 Million Years To Pay Off The National Debt On Their Own.(Press Release, “Income, Poverty and Health Insurance Coverage in the United States: 2010,” US Census Bureau, 9/13/11

To Pay Off $15 Trillion In Debt, The Federal Government Would Have To Devote Every Dollar Of Revenue To Paying Off The Debt For 6.5 Years. (“Monthly Budget Review,” Congressional Budget Office, 10/7/11)

Senator Nelson Expressed Support For A Federal Balanced Budget

NELSON: “I Support A Balanced Budget And Am In Favor Of A Balanced Budget Amendment.” (Scott Wong, “Ex-Governors Want Tough-Love Budget,” Politico, 7/20/11)

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)

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