Nelson’s Nebraska To Receive Extra Medicaid Funds Under Senate Bill
Nelson’s Nebraska To Receive Extra Medicaid Funds Under Senate Bill
This morning’s managers amendment to the merged Senate health bill goes a long way towards satisfying the demands of Democratic hold-out and all-important 60th vote Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).
Nelson has recently complained that the proposed expansion of Medicaid to those earning below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) would burden his state of Nebraska and suggested that states should be able to opt-in to the program.
Under the current merged legislation (the version unveiled on November 18th), the federal government fully finances care for the expanded population for two years and increases its matching funds (known as FMAP) thereafter. Page 98 of the managers amendment specifically identifies Nebraska for higher federal matching funds, fully funding its expansion:
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding subsection (b) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined under subsection (b) with respect to all or any portion of a fiscal year that begins on or after January 1, 2017, for the State of Nebraska, with respect to amounts expended for newly eligible individuals described in subclause (VIII) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i), shall be determined as provided for under subsection (y)(1) (A) (notwithstanding the period provided for in such paragraph)
Subsection (y)(1)(A) refers to page 399 of the original merged Senate legislation which fully funds state Mediciad expansions for the first two years. The manager’s amendment also provides 2.2% increase in FMAP to help states finance their existing Medicaid programs.
35 Responses to “Nelson’s Nebraska To Receive Extra Medicaid Funds Under Senate Bill”
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Shakedown! Now Ben wants a very limited conference.
December 19th, 2009 at 10:22 amSO BILL what is the price of 30 pieces of silver these days…you United Methodist, baby-killing socialist piece of trash! You and your church have sold Christ off the Cross and are now doing a 50-50 on the Cross. You are spineless and Nebraskans and America deserve better. You’re done next election.
December 19th, 2009 at 10:49 am“…. expansion of Medicaid to those earning below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) would burden his state of Nebraska…”
How interesting. The expansion of Medicaid will burden Nebraska? What about the other 49 states? Will they be burdened? Why does Nebraska rate more Medicaid funds from the feds than Missouri or California or Illinois, etc? Every state in the union will be burdened to the point of bankruptcy by this massive future liability. Where will the feds get the extra money to “…fully finance(s) care for the expanded population for two years and increase(s) its matching funds … thereafter…”? Why, they will borrow it, of course, and they will tax citizens, of course. Where will the states get the revenue to pay for this unfunded liability? They will have to tax and borrow to get it. What has Nelson gotten for his sellout? One additional year of federal money. This guy is a pathetic joke. Oh, sorry for the personal attack, but what else can you say?
December 19th, 2009 at 11:06 amSo much for equal protection under the law.
December 19th, 2009 at 11:11 amGary, dude, I’m just a fertilizer salesman in Omaha. Please keep me out of this.
December 19th, 2009 at 11:11 amTawdry.
December 19th, 2009 at 11:28 amVery interesting point about lack of equal protection, OBQuiet. Note that the 14th amendment to the Constitution says in part, “No State shall . . . ENFORCE any law which shall abridge the privileges or immunities of citizens of the United States.” Should the citizens of each of the other 49 states bring suit against their state governments to prevent them from enforcing Title XIX (Medicaid law)? Note this most relevant linked discussion page: http://www.constitution.org/col/intent_14th.htm
December 19th, 2009 at 12:21 pmNelson is a well known member of “The Family.” In addition to his self serving insurance company ties, he is out there pushing their radical agenda. The Family is a bipartisan cancer in our government that needs to be eradicated.
December 19th, 2009 at 12:38 pmOh look – another Democrat prostitute. Rot in hell, Nelson.
December 19th, 2009 at 12:50 pmThnaks for selling the other 49 states down the river, Senator. be sure that I will be sending money to your opponent when your re-election comes up because you do not deserve to represent the people of the great state of Nebraska.
December 19th, 2009 at 1:26 pmI hope that you will be able to sleep at night after what you have done, allowing your left wing cronies to force this abomination of a bill on the US, and by nothing but unadulterated corruption. You disgust me, and right now more so than the rest of the corrupt bunch in DC. The sooner we get rid of all of you and get back to a constitutionally driven government the better.
<Mr. Nelson you no longer have the right to be called a
December 19th, 2009 at 2:34 pm<Nebraska Senator anymore. You have sold out your state and <the American people. This also means you have no right to be <called an American in good conscious. I had always looked <up to you and this is a great disappointment. The amount of <debt you have heaped on the American people and their <chidrens,children is abominal. If ever there was an <individual who should hang there head it is you! You claim
<to represent the people of Nebraska yet you turn against them
<when you feel the tip of the Presidents sword Harry Reid.
<You turned your back on the people of Nebraska; so do not
<expect less of the people of Nebraska at the Polls!
<You may not have any respect for the people of Nebraska; <but you have to agree they have long memories! With a grass <root movement and the help of The Tea Party we will see that still look people in the eye. Oh! sorry I forgot you are a <politicion, which will make it possible.
Hi,
When did bribery become Legal in the USA? Put Ben Nelson & “Harry” in Jail!
This is INSANE!
Nebraska NEEDS to “Recall” this “common”….dirt bag!
Self Interest….Glad he is looking out for the other 49 states in America!
Peace!
Dan
____
December 19th, 2009 at 2:37 pmEverybody send Ben an e-mail. He needs to know that money will come from everywhere to send him packing in 2010. I could run my hunting dogs against him and they would win next November.
December 19th, 2009 at 5:06 pmNelson is indeed a blackmailing scumbag, and the entire bill a scandalous giveaway to the insurance industry, but we can at least take some pleasure in the discomfort of the trolling likes of Skinner and Stefan. Enjoy your socialized medicine, fellas. I know I will.
December 19th, 2009 at 8:39 pmBill Nelson is a prostitute and the American people are forced to pay the pimp.
December 19th, 2009 at 9:30 pmBill Nelson is the Senator from Florida; Ben Nelson is the Senator from Nebraska.
December 20th, 2009 at 12:42 am“Democratic leaders worked for days to hammer out a deal with Nelson. They reached a tentative agreement late Friday night. Under the deal, states could choose to prohibit abortion coverage in plans offered through insurance exchanges that the bill would set up for people who lack coverage through their jobs. The compromise is less restrictive than the abortion language contained in the House bill.”
“Nelson also secured full and permanent federal funding for his state to extend Medicaid eligibility to everyone below 133 percent of the federal poverty level. The bill would require all states to do so, but Nebraska alone would not be required to pay a portion of the additional cost after 2016. And he won concessions for some nonprofit insurers and for providers of supplemental Medicare coverage from a new insurance tax, and he was able to roll back cuts to health savings accounts.”
“Other Democrats also won important changes. Reid added $10 billion for community health centers to provide services to low-income people. That funding had been a top priority for Sen. Bernard Sanders (I-Vt.), a liberal champion of the public option.”
“And the majority leader rewrote a proposed fee on insurance companies to exempt nonprofit firms that spend at least 92 percent of premiums on medical service, a change that would benefit firms in Michigan and Nebraska. That change, made at the request of Nelson and Sen. Carl M. Levin (D-Mich.), seeks to identify and reward “good actors,” Senate aides said.”
~~~~~~~~~~~
Nelson’s medicaid payoff is actually PERPETUAL, not for just one year.
December 20th, 2009 at 1:12 amAll of our representatives take money from lobbyists so they can get elected. Why is everyone having a fit because Mary and Ben took money for their constituents for better health care? You all act like this isnt done all the time. At least they took money for the betterment of their citizens instead of just for their campaigns. I am glad this bill went through because now they can go back year after year to improve it. Republicans dont care about anything but big business and war. Thank God for the democrats.
December 20th, 2009 at 7:27 amboy you guys are slow. nelson supported health reform with one serious exception – abortion. he leveraged his position to great effect: supporting party and president, and getting everyone else to pay for his state’s entitlements.
it’s actually brilliant. everyone else, in their righteous anger, reveal just how slow they are. you’re swinging at yesterday’s pitches, guys.
it’s likely that nelson will get reelected for being so much smarter than posters #2, 8, 9, and 10.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:21 amalso, don’t get angry at sen nelson for securing a serious benefit for his state. write your senator or congressman and demand that you get the same benefit that an american in nebraska will.
December 20th, 2009 at 8:42 amWhat is the population of Ben Nelsons district?
December 20th, 2009 at 8:44 amStupak’s is 658,482.
The Family so called philosophy is vapid and socially vicious.
It has nothing to do with Christ and everything to do with aggrandizing political power.
There is something very wrong with a system that allows these weak and corrupt legislators representing so few Americans to bully through their radical social agendas.
We are not in Nebraska, but this cowardly move affects us. We foolishly thought that Senator Nelson was a person of integrity and one of the rare Democrats who could be trusted. We were wrong and are so disappointed in him as an American. So far, the left wing Dems have managed to threaten, pay-off and manipulate everyone who stood in their way – it’s disgraceful and I hope every one who voted for this insane bill is turned out of office next election. Our only hope to survive as a solvent nation is that we can hold on until we restore balance in the legislative branch.
December 20th, 2009 at 11:41 am#21 – barnowl – you say that “There is something very wrong with a system that allows these weak and corrupt legislators representing so few Americans to bully through their radical social agendas.”
are you recommending something other than democracy? sounds like you are against the current system that we have.
December 20th, 2009 at 1:26 pmRECALL!!
December 20th, 2009 at 5:06 pmOk. Who do we send money to get this POS gone?
December 20th, 2009 at 8:26 pm
December 20th, 2009 at 10:57 pmI view this action as BRIBERY. It should be ILLEGAL! Senator Nelson should be ashamed of himself. I am from CA and we sure could use some help with the budget here. What if all the other Senators held out for BRIBES for their respective states. At some point here (SOON) the people will say they have had enough of this CRAP, and vote these SELF-SERVING politicians out of office.
Ben Nelson didn’t get anything. This nightmarish bill aside from likely being unconstitutional is not law. What is going to happen unless somebody gets a spine is that this bill will go to the conference committee and a bill will have to be drafted that will pass both houses. This will have to happen in an election year so it will get plenty hot especially with the senate.
This is a very unpopular bill with the citizens as is all of the liberal agenda under Obama. But as it usually turns out, the public which is largely conservative come out in mass and fixes it. Ultimately we are heading for Jimmy Carter on steroids. Liberals are clueless about how the private sector works. Their tax the rich is resulting in the rich closing down their businesses. Large corporations are moving to Asia where labor is better and more efficient. Obama and the libs have seized on marshaling the idiots over chump change bonuses while the libs waste trillions. Bush spend an outrageous 1.6 Trillion in his budget. Obama became the big spender of all time and has a 2.8 trillion budget.
The libs want to work fast because they know the economy is only reacting to the huge influence of borrowed money. Small business has no liquidity. Private money is available at 16% interest. So if this is the smart money, why is gov money going out the door of the Fed interest free?
So this zyklon B heath care plan is a long way from passage if it is ever passed and time is against the liberals. The public is outraged and when the politicians come home, they are going to get slammed every time they go in public and in 2010, the liberals are going to wake up in shell shock.
Let remember that in the last election only 60% of the voting population voted. Of that Obama got a slim majority amounting to about 32% of the total eligible voters. This is hardly a mandate for socialism.
December 20th, 2009 at 11:01 pm#20 A bribe is a bribe. Selling his vote for medicaid funding is laughable. Who do you think pays for this? Citizens of Nebraska will pay for it. He didn’t make any deal. He sold out the citizen’s of Nebraska and all he did was find a short sighted excuse for idiots like yourself to embrace. He gets a few million and it will only cost the US a trillion.
And what happens next year when Nebraska doesn’t get any additional medicaid funding and is stuck with this costly bill? Very short sighted.
December 20th, 2009 at 11:12 pmlordrobot -
you have poor grammar, lack style, and nothing of significance to say. you are in no position to call anyone an idiot. i recommend you get an education; you may draw some benefit from doing so.
also, consider coming up with your own original ideas for future posts. recycling viewpoints from your fellow extremists reflects poorly on you. there are adults engaging in serious dialogue here, so this is not an ideal forum for you. i recommend, for you, the comments section of youtube videos.
December 21st, 2009 at 7:34 pmJudas Thadeus and Benedict Arnold are as good as Congressman Nelson. Immoral and Corrupt Congress is a disgrace to American values. Shame on you!
December 21st, 2009 at 10:49 pmNelson’s actions are not abominable because he negotiated, but because he voted in favor of a bill he does NOT BELIEVE is GOOD for his constituents. That makes him the lowest echelon of politicians. He is immoral and corrupt! If your people cannot live by it, then vote against it!
December 21st, 2009 at 10:59 pmbeddow: tell me how this is bad for nebraska? the fiscal load of nebraska’s medicaid is now shifted to everyone else outside of nebraska. AND nebraska retains its right as a state to shape abortion policy rather than have policy mandated to it by the federal government.
sounds like sen nelson was incredibly successful. the state taxes that would have paid for medicaid can now do other things, such as infrastructure improvement, education, tax breaks to stimulate business, income tax rebates, or any other number of things.
when you perfect moralists get off of your collective high horse, you may want to try to influence how nebraska will spend it’s new money. until then, you’re still swinging at yesterday’s pitches.
December 22nd, 2009 at 8:42 amHi,
Senator Bill Nelson Phone Number In Nebraska is:
(402)391-3411
Call him up and speak your peace!
Merry Christmas.
Dan
____
December 22nd, 2009 at 12:06 pmIraq News Updates 2010
I will travel around NE from now on. If you still vote to pass health care bill,
December 23rd, 2009 at 5:42 amThat is perhaps the dumbest threat I’ve seen in a long time. I’m sure making that 10 hour bypass around the state you’ll have to make will show them who’s boss.
This bill is not nearly as influential as either the pros or cons are making it out to be. Everyone needs to chill out.
December 23rd, 2009 at 1:33 pm