Ben Nelson Will Not Be Lying Down

There's a famous story about a Congressperson that represented a wealthy district, who agonized over their vote for Bill Clinton's budget because though they believed in it, the general consensus was that a yea vote would cost them the seat.

No matter which way I google, I can't find the Congressperson's name, but the saga of Senator Ben Nelson and his difficult cloture vote on health care reform has reminded me of the parable.

Earlier, I linked to audio of him being lambasted on Nebraska airwaves, plus his reply and a somewhat savvy move, where he gave the Republican Governor (and likely future opponent), the option of removing the state's Medicare provision from the bill.

Then, I linked to questions being raised about a statue going up in his honor, paid for with private funds, which is slated to be put in front of his boyhood home, already a tourist attraction.

And now, a new poll puts Nelson at a 31-point disadvantage to Gov. Dave Heineman for a possible 2012 race; 55% of Nebraskans rate him unfavorably and 64% disapprove of Health Care Reform; So, Sen. Nelson will start airing pro-reform commercials during this evening's football game, with the idea that if more people understood the proposal, the sands shifting beneath him could start to subside.

Update: KETV sampled the Nelson ad in a video report.

Nelson's Trials Continue

One of the items on the McCook (NE) City Council's consent agenda Monday night was a modification to the contract for a bronze statue honoring Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) to be placed outside his boyhood home.

The sculpture will depict the Senator as a boy, standing with his parents, receiving his Eagle Scout award and the modification was so that the artist could be paid per figure, rather than with one lump sum.

The item was pulled from the agenda for discussion by Councilman Aaron Kircher and Dick Trail, a former city councilman, a former county commissioner and a current columnist for the McCook Daily Gazette.

Mr. Kircher wanted to ascertain that because no city funds are being used and the council is simply acting as a conduit for money from other sources, whether they had received the money and if they had approval from the funders for the contract change.

While Mr. Trail wanted to know that in light of recent sentiment, if the artwork could be delayed.

The city attorney replied that a delay would not be possible because the contract has timed benchmarks which must be met and Mark Graff of the Nebraska Community Foundation, the funding agency, explained that though many people may feel disappointed with Nelson's Health Care Reform vote, the artwork signifies more than just the Senator, but also the importance of family and community involvement.

After the discussion, the contract changes were approved.

Related: Sen. Nelson Cautions Health Care Debate Far From Over

Nebraska Senators at Odds Over Nebraska Break

Within hours of Senator Ben Nelson getting a provision added to the Health Care Reform Bill that would excuse Nebraskans from paying additional Medicaid funds, saving the state's taxpayers $45 million over ten years, fellow Nebraska Senator Mike Johanns raised objections.

As a result and with some political savvy, Sen. Nelson has written to the state's Republican Governor, Dave Heineman offering to withdraw the amendment, if that's the way he'd prefer to proceed.

Related (/w Video): Sen. Nelson Hears From Constituents, Peers