The Real Ben Nelson Stands up for Nebraska
Jun 16, 10:10 AM CST
By Dennis Crawford
Mark Fahleson – the Chairman of the Nebraska Republican Party – has recently been pushing the misleading talking point that there are “two Ben Nelsons.” He has claimed that there is a moderate Nebraska Ben Nelson and a liberal Washington Ben Nelson. Nothing could be further from the truth. There is only one Ben Nelson – a Senator who works hard to craft bi-partisan solutions to difficult problems. Moreover, the one Ben Nelson is a Senator who is respected on both sides of the aisle and has had some success working out bi-partisan solutions to serious problems. Let’s take a look at the record.
Earlier this year, Senator Nelson worked with President Obama and two Republican Senators to craft and ultimately pass a major stimulus package aimed at reviving our country’s stagnant economy. The stimulus package is already beginning to show results here in Nebraska. Around 95% of Americans received a tax cut and the Nebraska Legislature used federal stimulus funds to balance the budget. Without those stimulus funds, the people of Nebraska would have faced the unpalatable prospect of tax increases and major program cuts in the middle of a deep recession. Thanks to Senator Nelson’s work, most Nebraskans received a tax cut and will continue to receive vital government services.
One thing one has to do is look at the alternative that was offered by the Republican Party. It is not fair to say that the GOP is the party of no ideas. It would be more fair to say that the GOP is the party of bad ideas.
The Senate Republicans – including Mike Johanns – offered a stimulus package that cost 3.5 times the cost of the Obama plan and largely consisted of tax cuts aimed at corporation and wealthy individuals. Apparently, for the GOP, deficit spending is permissible so long as it is done via tax cuts for the rich and the corporations.
What if the GOP plan had passed instead of the Obama-Nelson bi-partisan stimulus package? A few wealthy individuals in Nebraska would’ve received more tax cuts but the rest of the state’s citizens would’ve faced a tax increase and program cuts to balance the State’s budget. As a nation, we’ve attempted this economic strategy of tax cuts for the wealthy during the Bush Administration and as we all know, that didn’t work. It was a miserable failure.
On health care, the Nebraska GOP has also made some misleading allegations about Senator Nelson’s plans. The GOP has alleged that Nelson wants the federal government to run our health care system. That charge is false.
Senator Nelson believes in what President Obama campaigned on – that everybody should have access to quality health insurance and health care. If people already like their health care plan, they can keep it. They don’t have to change. Moreover, Senator Nelson believes everybody should be covered.
Once again, let’s take a look at the Republican alternative. Once again, it’s a series of tax cuts that would largely benefit the wealthy and the already healthy. Those tax cuts wouldn’t come anywhere close to providing health coverage for all Americans.
Simply stated, there is one Senator Ben Nelson. He is a man who takes his duties as a Senator very seriously and whose aim is to provide real solutions to serious problems.
– by Lisa Olivares | Send this to a friend
