A Herald Bulletin column from this weekend notes that Bayh has not yet responded to the Indiana Debate Commission’s Senate debate invitation:
“The Indiana Debate Commission was formed in 2007 as a not-for-profit corporation to schedule, establish ground rules, and select moderators and locations for debates… So far Young has signed a letter of intent to participate in the debates. The Bayh campaign, as of Friday, had not responded… For the people of Indiana, Bayh must agree to the debates against Young.” (Ken de la Bastide, “Bayh Needs To Debate Young,” Herald Bulletin, 9/4/16)
While Bayh is dodging Hoosier voters, he’ll be at home in Washington, raising money with the help of a fellow political insider:
Just like Bayh, Nelson ran straight to K Street after his support for Obamacare ended his political career:
The Hill Headline: “Ex-Sen. Ben Nelson starts new lobby firm”
Politico Headline: “Nelson among ex-lawmakers to K St.”
The Hill Headline: “Ex-Sen. Ben Nelson heads to K Street”
Washington Examiner Headline: “Ex-Sen. Ben Nelson cashes in on his Obamacare vote”
Perhaps Nelson’s fundraising effort is a belated thank you for Bayh’s support of the Cornhusker Kickback, a shady backroom deal that “came to symbolize an out-of-touch Washington” – a deal that Bayh supported when he cast the deciding vote for Obamacare.
In December 2009, Bayh Was The Deciding Vote For The Senate Version Of ObamaCare, Which Included The Cornhusker Kickback. “Motion to invoke cloture (thus limiting debate) on the bill that would create marketplaces for purchasing health insurance, create a system of national private insurance plans supervised by the Office of Personnel Management, require most individuals to obtain insurance and impose requirements on insurance companies regarding the coverage that they offer.” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #395: Motion agreed to 60-39: R 0-39; D 58-0; I 2-0, 12/23/09, Bayh Voted Yea)
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News Of Nelson’s Backroom Deal Became Public Days Before The Senate Voted On ObamaCare, And Bayh Supported It Anyway. “Sen. Mary Landrieu got the ‘Louisiana Purchase.’ Sen. Ben Nelson got the federal government to pick up most his state’s future Medicaid tab — forever. As part of the deal to win Nelson’s support, the federal government will pay for Nebraska’s new Medicaid recipients. It’s a provision worth about $45 million over the first decade.” (“Ben Nelson’s Medicaid Deal,” Politico, 12/19/09)
- Ben Nelson’s Cornhusker Kickback “Alienated Independent Voters And Came To Symbolize An Out-Of-Touch Washington.” “The health care bill is in trouble, but a series of narrow deals — each designed to win over a wavering senator or key interest group — is alive and well, despite voter anger over the parochial horse-trading that marked the rush toward passage before Christmas. With the exception of Nebraska Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson’s ‘Cornhusker Kickback,’ which alienated independent voters and came to symbolize an out-of-touch Washington, none of the other narrow provisions that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid inserted into the bill appear to be in any kind of danger as Democrats try to figure out the way ahead.” (Patrick O’Connor and Carrie Budoff Brown, “Dems Protect Backroom Deals,” Politico, 2/3/10)
It’s been clear since Bayh bailed on Indiana six years ago that he’d rather rub elbows with his insider friends in Washington. But now Bayh isn’t even trying to pretend that he’s willing to get on a plane to talk to Hoosier voters, much less agree to a debate where he would be forced to answer for his lobbying career, D.C. residency, and support for President Obama’s disastrous agenda.