Ben Nelson

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Ben Nelson
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United States Senator
from Nebraska
In office
January 3, 2001 –January 3, 2013

Earl Benjamin Nelson (born May 17, 1941) is an American attorney, businessman, and politician who served as the 37th governor of Nebraska from 1991 to 1999 and as a United States Senator from Nebraska from 2001 to 2013. He is a member of the Democratic Party, and as of 2024, is the last Democrat to hold and/or win any statewide elected office in Nebraska.

Contents

Nelson was an insurance executive before he entered politics. His first run for office was in 1990, when he narrowly defeated incumbent Republican governor Kay Orr. He was reelected by a landslide in 1994. [2] He ran for an open U.S. Senate seat in 1996, losing in an upset to Republican Chuck Hagel. He was elected to Nebraska's other Senate seat in 2000, and reelected in 2006. He did not run for a third term in 2012, and was succeeded by Republican Deb Fischer.

Nelson was the most conservative Democrat during his time in the Senate, frequently voting against his party. [3]

Early life, education, and early career

Earl Benjamin Nelson was born on May 17, 1941, in McCook, [4] in southwestern Nebraska. He is the only child of Birdella and Benjamin Earl Nelson. [5] He is an Eagle Scout. [6]

He earned a B.A. in 1963, an M.A. in 1965, and a J.D. in 1970—all from the University of Nebraska. [7]

After graduating from law school, Nelson landed a job as assistant general counsel for Central National Insurance Group of Omaha. After several years in the business, in 1975 the governor appointed him state insurance director. [8] After the administration changed, he returned to work for Central National Insurance as an executive vice president and eventually president. [8]

Political career

Nelson became involved in state politics, joining the Democratic Party. In 1986, he served as state chairman of Democrat Helen Boosalis's gubernatorial campaign. She was mayor of Lincoln, Nebraska. [9] Boosalis was defeated by state treasurer Republican Kay Orr, 53% to 47%. [9] [10] [11]

Governor of Nebraska

Nelson first ran for electoral office in the 1990 Nebraska gubernatorial election, [12] defeating first-term Republican incumbent Orr by 4,030 votes out of over 586,000 cast. [13] He was reelected in 1994 with 73% of the vote, the largest margin of victory for a governor in half a century, despite the national Republican gains that year. [2]

During his tenure, Nelson cut spending from the previous administration by 64%, when it was forecast to rise by 13%. [14] He introduced legislation to cut crime through the Safe Streets Act and Juvenile Crime Bill, advocated for low-income families through the Kids Connection health care system, and enacted welfare reforms. He also cut taxes for over 400,000 middle-income families. [15]

As governor, Nelson took some conservative stances on issues in right-leaning Nebraska. He pushed welfare reform before it was done at a national level and opposed President Bill Clinton's efforts on health care. [8]

During the 1990 campaign, Nelson attacked Orr's support for a proposed low-level nuclear waste dump in the state. During his tenure, the Nebraska State Department of Environmental Quality denied the dump's application for an operating license, prompting a lawsuit that Nebraska settled for $145 million. [16]

Nelson ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1996 when fellow Democrat Jim Exon retired. He was defeated by Republican businessman and Vietnam veteran Chuck Hagel in an upset. [17]

In 1998, Nelson was ineligible to run for reelection because of Nebraska's term-limits law. He was succeeded as governor by Mike Johanns, the Republican mayor of Lincoln. [18] As of 2024, Nelson is the last Democrat to serve as governor of Nebraska.

U.S. Senator

2000 election

Senator Ben Nelson (right) with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) NELSONHOYER.jpg
Senator Ben Nelson (right) with House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD)

Nelson was nominated by the Democrats for the Senate in the 2000 election after his fellow Democrat, incumbent Bob Kerrey, announced his retirement. His opponent was Attorney General Don Stenberg. Nelson won the election with 51% of the vote after a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than Stenberg. Despite initially pledging to work together, [19] Nelson and now fellow U.S. senator from Nebraska Hagel had a somewhat frosty relationship. [20]

2006 election

Election results by county for Nelson's 2006 reelection bid 2006 United States Senate election in Nebraska results map by county.svg
Election results by county for Nelson's 2006 reelection bid

Nelson was thought to be in danger of losing his seat in 2006, as it was thought his successor as governor, Mike Johanns, was almost certain to run against him; that speculation ended when Johanns was appointed U.S. Secretary of Agriculture. [21] With Johanns's move to Washington, few high-profile Republicans stepped up to run against Nelson, as the state party focused its attention on the governor's race.[ citation needed ] The Republican nomination was won by Pete Ricketts, a former TD Ameritrade executive. [22]

In the general election, Nelson was endorsed by the National Rifle Association of America, Nebraska Right to Life (National Right to Life's state affiliate), [23] Nebraskans United for Life, [24] the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, the National Federation of Independent Business, [25] Nebraska Farmers Union PAC, National Farmers Union PAC, the Veterans of Foreign Wars PAC, the Business-Industry Political Action Committee, and the Omaha Police Union, all conservative-leaning groups.

Nelson defeated Ricketts 64%-36%, the biggest victory margin for a Democratic Senate candidate in Nebraska since Edward Zorinsky won 66% of the vote in 1982. [26] In doing so, he received the votes of 42% of Republicans and 73% of Independents on top of 96% of those from his own party. He also won all but 13 counties in the western part of the state, a surprising feat in normally heavily Republican Nebraska. [27] [28]

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Senators Ben Nelson and Jim Webb prior to a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the START Treaty. Defense Secretary and Senators Ben Nelson and Jim Webb prior to a hearing before the ASC on the START treaty.jpg
Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Senators Ben Nelson and Jim Webb prior to a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on the START Treaty.

Political positions

Abortion

Nelson is anti-abortion. [29] In the 2006 election, he was endorsed by Nebraska Right to Life [30] and Nebraskans United for Life. [31] He lost Nebraska Right to Life's support after voting for the Senate version of health-care legislation, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, which did not contain the Stupak language. [30]

Earmarks

In July 2007, Senator Tom Coburn criticized earmarks that Nelson had inserted into the 2007 defense spending bill, alleging that they would benefit Nelson's son Patrick's employer with millions in federal dollars, and that the situation violated terms of the Federal Funding Accountability and Transparency Act of 2006, which the Senate passed but had not yet been voted on in the House. Nelson's spokesperson said he did nothing wrong [32] and was acting with "an abundance of caution" when he withdrew the amendment after the new Senate Ethics Rules were passed. Some government watchdogs, including Public Citizen, commented that the earmark probably didn't violate ethics rules. [33] More than one publication questioned Coburn's motives, as his criticism did not include his own state delegation's earmark requests. [34]

Health care and "Cornhusker Kickback"

In late 2009, the Senate's 40 Republicans unanimously opposed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, the Senate's version of health-care legislation. To end a Republican filibuster and pass the measure, the Democrats needed the votes of all 58 of their senators, plus those of two independents who caucused with their party. Nelson was the 60th and last senator to vote for cloture. [35]

According to Nelson, he wanted to ensure that the final version of the law prohibited the use of public funds for abortions. [36] His cloture vote came after the measure was amended to permit states to opt out of allowing insurance exchange plans to provide abortion coverage. People with plans that covered abortion costs would pay for that coverage separately from their payment for the rest of the plan. [37] The bill also provided full and permanent federal reimbursement for the expenses Nebraska would incur in its mandated expansion of Medicaid eligibility, [35] an amount the Congressional Budget Office estimated at $100 million. [38]

The health-care measure was controversial, and Nelson's vote provoked a strong response. Opponents of the Medicaid reimbursement scheme derided it as the "Cornhusker Kickback". [39] [40] [41] Among those denouncing the provision was Dave Heineman, Nebraska's Republican governor. [42] To these criticisms, Nelson responded that he had been attempting to eliminate an unfunded federal mandate upon the states, [43] and that the Nebraska item was a "placeholder", intended from the start to be replaced by a revision that would provide reimbursement for the increased Medicaid costs of every state. [44]

Anti-abortion organizations also responded negatively to Nelson's vote. In April 2010, Nebraska Right to Life declared that it would never again endorse Nelson. [45]

Nelson's popularity fell among Nebraskans in the wake of his cloture vote. According to Omaha.com, "Almost overnight, the controversial vote knocked [Nelson's] Nebraska voter approval rating from 78 percent, the highest in the Senate, to 42 percent, according to one poll, and prompted relentless criticism, with many observers saying his political career was over." [46] A December 2009 Rasmussen poll indicated that in a hypothetical Nelson–Heineman race, the Republican would get 61% of the vote to Nelson's 30%. In the same poll, 64% of the Nebraska voters surveyed opposed the health-care bill. [47]

With the victory of Republican Scott Brown in the special election to fill the Senate seat vacated by the death of Senator Edward Kennedy, Democrats lost their filibuster-proof majority. Since Brown had declared himself opposed to the health-care measure, the party's leadership opted to enact the legislation through the budget reconciliation process. [48] Nelson voted against the final version of the legislation, the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010. [49] His support for the measure was no longer essential to its passage, since the reconciliation bill was not subject to filibuster and required only a simple majority. [50]

The measure as ultimately passed eliminated the special Medicaid reimbursement for Nebraska, as Nelson had requested in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid about a month after his crucial cloture vote. [44] Nelson said his opposition to the final measure arose from newly added provisions related to student loans [49] that would adversely affect Nebraska-based student-lending firm Nelnet. [51] [52] Despite voting against it, he subsequently defended the law, saying, "I am willing to fight to improve it, but not to repeal it." [53]

Iraq

On March 15, 2007, Nelson was one of two Democratic senators to vote against invoking cloture on a resolution aimed at withdrawing most American combat troops from Iraq in 2008. The vote, requiring 60 votes to pass, was 50 to 48 against. [54]

As a result of traveling to Iraq four times, the last in September 2007, [55] Nelson took the position that a transition of the mission in Iraq was necessary, as opposed to full withdrawal of troops. [56] The Jones Commission supported his view on September 6, 2007, when General James L. Jones presented a report to Congress claiming that "The circumstances of the moment may continue to present the opportunity for considering a shift in the disposition and employment of our forces... such a strategy would include placing increasing responsibilities for the internal security of the nation on the ISF, especially in urban areas. Coalition forces could be re-tasked to better ensure the territorial defense of the state by increasingly concentrating on the eastern and western borders and the active defense of the critical infrastructures essential to Iraq." [57] : p. 127  The premise that stability in Iraq would only be achieved through political reconciliation acted on through legislation, a view long held by Nelson, was also recommended by Jones, reporting, "The future of Iraq… hinges on the ability of the Iraqi people and the government to begin the process of achieving national reconciliation and to ending sectarian violence." [57] : p. 130 

In the spring of 2007, Senators Nelson, Susan Collins of Maine, and John Warner of Virginia authored a list of measures, or "benchmarks", that were included in the Iraq Supplemental bill. These benchmarks allowed for progress to be measured in certain areas such as recognition of minority groups, strengthening of internal security forces, and equal distribution of oil revenue. President George W. Bush and General David Petraeus were required to report on the advancement of these "benchmarks". [58]

Nelson and Collins also introduced legislation on July 11, 2007, that would transition U.S. troops out of Baghdad. The legislation called for turning over internal security efforts to Iraqi forces after which the U.S. military would secure the borders, protect the infrastructure, and continue to search for al-Qaeda forces. [56]

Judicial appointments

Nelson was the lead Democratic senator among the "Gang of 14," a bloc of 14 senators who, on May 23, 2005, forged a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial filibuster, thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "nuclear option". [59] Under the gang's agreement, Democrats would retain the power to filibuster one of Bush's judicial nominees only in an "extraordinary circumstance", [60] and the three most conservative Bush appellate court nominees (Janice Rogers Brown, Priscilla Owen and William Pryor) would receive a vote by the full Senate. [61] Nelson was the only Democrat to vote to confirm Brown; he was later the first Democratic senator to support Samuel Alito's confirmation to the Supreme Court of the United States. [62] [63] Nelson also voted twice, with three other Democrats, to end Senate debate over Bush's United Nations Ambassador nominee John Bolton. [64]

In an op-ed column, Nelson wrote: "The president's nominees, especially to the Supreme Court, deserve an up-or-down vote, even if the nominee isn't popular with the special-interest groups in Washington." [65]

In 2010, when Barack Obama nominated Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court, Nelson was the only Democrat to vote against her confirmation, saying "I have heard concerns from Nebraskans regarding Ms. Kagan, and her lack of a judicial record makes it difficult for me to discount the concerns raised by Nebraskans, or to reach a level of comfort that these concerns are unfounded. Therefore, I will not vote to confirm Ms. Kagan's nomination" [66] [67]

Same-sex marriage

In 1996, Nelson proposed and supported legislation to prevent Nebraska from recognizing same-sex marriages formed in other states. This was his response to a court case in Hawaii that Nelson feared would legalize gay marriage. [68]

Nelson supported Initiative 416, an amendment to the Nebraska constitution prohibiting same-sex marriage and domestic partnership. [69]

Taxes

Nelson was one of five Democratic senators to vote for the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of 2001. The measure called for $1.35 trillion in tax cuts over 11 years and nearly $2 trillion in spending for the next fiscal year. The spending was close to that proposed by Bush; the tax cuts were slightly less than the $1.6 trillion Bush sought. [70] Nelson also voted for passage of the 2003 tax cut which accelerated many of the provisions in the 2001 tax cut in addition to benefits for small businesses. [71]

In October 2009, Americans for Tax Reform stated that Nelson was the only Democratic senator who had signed its Taxpayer Protection Pledge, [72] and launched an advocacy campaign to urge him to oppose the health care reform proposals in Congress, which, they asserted, contained "billions of dollars in income tax hikes." [73]

In July 2012, Nelson, with 18 other senators, [74] cosponsored a bill that would allow states to collect sales taxes on interstate sales, including catalogue and Internet sales. [75] The bill (Marketplace Fairness Act, S.1832) would require any seller who sold a product or service to a consumer from another state to calculate, collect and pay to that other state the sales tax based on that state's tax rates. [76] Proponents argued that the measure would redress an unfair economic advantage enjoyed by online sellers over local businesses arising from the fact that the former were often not required to collect sales taxes from their customers. [77] Opponents maintained that it would be unfair to require interstate merchants to collect sales taxes in jurisdictions where they had no physical presence, and thus derived no benefit from the taxes; and that the variety and complexity of state and local sales taxes would place a burden on merchants required to keep track of them in order to collect the taxes. [78]

Other votes

Nelson's votes in the Senate often placed him at odds with the leadership of his party. A National Journal congressional vote rating from 2006 placed him to the right of five Senate Republicans (Gordon Smith, Olympia Snowe, Arlen Specter, Susan Collins, and Lincoln Chafee). Mary Landrieu was the only other Democrat to the right of any Republicans (she placed to the right of Chafee). [79] A similar 2007 National Journal rating went even further, placing Nelson to the right of eight Senate Republicans (the above five as well as Richard Lugar, Norm Coleman, and Mike DeWine), with Landrieu once again to Chafee's right and the only other Democrat to the right of any Republicans. [80] For 2012, the American Conservative Union rated his overall performance at 48 percent, the highest of any Democratic senator. [81]

Nelson was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. He voted with Republicans on bankruptcy reform, environmental protection, class action lawsuits, and trade. In 2004 he was one of only three Democratic senators to vote to invoke cloture on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment; in 2006 he was one of only two Democratic senators to vote that way. [82] [83] He was the only Democratic senator to vote against a 2006 bill that would have extended federal funding for stem cell research. But he consistently voted against drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. He also opposed Bush's plan to send 21,500 more troops to Iraq. [84] Early in Bush's first term he voted with the majority of his party against scrapping President Bill Clinton's expansive new rules on ergonomics regulation for workers; many of his fellow conservative Democrats like John Breaux, Max Baucus, Blanche Lincoln, and Zell Miller voted with Republicans on the issue. On April 26, 2010, Nelson was one of two Democratic senators in attendance to vote against the motion to move a financial regulations bill forward, siding with Senate Republicans. The other was Harry Reid, who voted against his own proposed bill for procedural reasons.

On December 18, 2010, Nelson voted with Democrats for the Don't Ask, Don't Tell Repeal Act of 2010. [85]

Post-Senate career

In January 2013, Nelson was named chief executive officer of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, [86] an organization of state insurance regulatory agencies for the United States and several of its territories. The body establishes standards and coordinates regulatory oversight for the state agencies. [87] He left the association and returned to his private law practice in January 2016. [88]

Electoral history

1990 Nebraska gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ben Nelson 292,771 49.91
Republican Kay Orr (incumbent)288,74149.23
Write-inMort Sullivan1,8870.32
Write-inOthers3,1430.54
1994 Nebraska gubernatorial election
PartyCandidateVotes%
Democratic Ben Nelson (incumbent) 423,270 73.0
Republican Gene Spence148,23025.6
Write-in Ernie Chambers 2,5100.4
Write-inOthers5,5511.0
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election 1996 [89]
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Republican Chuck Hagel 379,933 56.14% +15.21%
Democratic Ben Nelson281,90441.65%−17.25%
Libertarian John DeCamp 9,4831.40%
Natural Law Bill Dunn4,8060.71%
Write-ins6630.10%
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election 2000
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ben Nelson 353,093 51.00% −3.78%
Republican Don Stenberg 337,97748.82%+3.81%
Write-ins1,2800.18%
Nebraska U.S. Senate Election 2006
PartyCandidateVotes%±%
Democratic Ben Nelson (Incumbent) 378,388 63.88% +12.88%
Republican Pete Ricketts 213,92836.12%−12.70%

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References

  1. ↑ Walton, Don (8 March 2016). "Ben Nelson's daughter dies in a fall". journalstar.com. Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved January 13, 2021.
  2. 1 2 "The 1994 Elections: Congress; Who Won Where—The Races For Governor". The New York Times . November 10, 1994. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  3. ↑ Wing, Nick (January 4, 2011). "Ben Nelson Is Senate Democrat Most Likely To Vote Against His Party: Analysis". HuffPost . Retrieved November 4, 2013.
  4. ↑ Rettig, Jessica (2010-03-29). "10 Things You Didn't Know About Ben Nelson". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved 2017-01-16.
  5. ↑ Hammel, Paul (24 December 2017). "Ben Nelson's childhood home joins museum complex highlighting politicians from McCook". Omaha.com.
  6. ↑ Wendell, Bryan (10 August 2010). "Statue honors Ben Nelson, Distinguished Eagle Scout and Nebraska senator". Bryan on Scouting. Retrieved 2010-08-10.
  7. ↑ "Ben Nelson biography". JournalStar.com.
  8. 1 2 3 Hain, J. Christopher (2000-10-01). "Nelson's Past Motivates Crusade for Senate Seat". Lincoln Journal Star . pp. 1A, 10A. Retrieved 2019-06-27– via NewsBank.
  9. 1 2 Walton, Don (June 15, 2009). "Former Lincoln Mayor Boosalis Dies" (online and print editions). Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  10. ↑ "Earl Benjamin Nelson". San Francisco Chronicle . 2002. Retrieved October 7, 2011.[ dead link ]
  11. ↑ "Helen Boosalis Dies". Koln/Kgin Tv. June 16, 2009. Archived from the original on 2012-05-19. Retrieved October 7, 2011.
  12. ↑ "Gov. E. Benjamin Nelson". nga.org. NGA. 3 January 2019. Retrieved 28 November 2019.
  13. ↑ Beermann, Allen J.; Englert, Ralph; et al. (1990). "Official Report of the Board of State Canvassers of the State of Nebraska: Primary Election May 15, 1990, General Election November 6, 1990" (PDF). State.NE.us. p. 10. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 6, 2016. Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  14. ↑ State of Nebraska Annual Budgetary Reports, 1987-1998 (PDF) (Report). Department of Administrative Services Accounting Division, State of Nebraska. June 30, 1987. Retrieved October 27, 2024.
  15. ↑ "Sen. Benjamin Nelson (D) - Nebraska". Almanac of American Politics 2002. Archived from the original on 2011-06-14. Retrieved 2007-12-30.
  16. ↑ Laukaitis, Algis J. (August 1, 2005). "Call Finally Ends Nuke Waste Dispute". Lincoln Journal Star . Retrieved January 15, 2017.
  17. ↑ "Neb.: Senate Seat Goes Republican In Nebraska". CNN. Retrieved 27 November 2019.
  18. ↑ "1998 New Member Profiles -- Nebraska Governor Michael Johanns (R)". nationaljournal.com. Archived from the original on 2000-08-16. Retrieved 2011-10-04.
  19. ↑ "Nelson, Hagel pledge to work together". Election 2000. USA Today. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on November 8, 2001.
  20. ↑ Thompson, Jake (October 23, 2006). "Hagel says Ricketts win vital to GOP hold on Congress". Omaha World-Herald . Archived from the original on December 14, 2007.
  21. ↑ "Johanns Gets Ag Nod". wowt.com. Archived from the original on December 9, 2004. Retrieved 30 November 2019.
  22. ↑ "Nebraska Senate 2006 Race". OpenSecrets. Archived from the original on July 12, 2018.
  23. ↑ Walton, Don (July 18, 2006). "Tension marked Nelson endorsement". Lincoln Journal Star . Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  24. ↑ "Welcome to Nebraskans United for Life!". Nebraskans United for Life. 2006 NUFL Endorsements. Archived from the original on October 12, 2007.
  25. ↑ Walton, Don (May 30, 2006). "Nelson challenges Ricketts on immigration". Lincoln Journal Star . Archived from the original on September 30, 2007. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
  26. ↑ Tysver, Robynn; Thompson, Jake (November 8, 2006). "Big-money campaign, lopsided victory". Omaha World-Herald . Archived from the original on November 16, 2006. Retrieved 2006-11-08.
  27. ↑ "Elections 2006". CNN. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  28. ↑ "Elections 2006". CNN. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  29. ↑ "NELSON STATEMENT ON SEBELIUS CONFIRMATION" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2010-05-05. Retrieved 2010-04-26.
  30. 1 2 Schmit-Albin, Julie (December 19, 2009). "Betrayed by Senator Nelson's Action on Senate Healthcare Bill". NERightToLife.org. Archived from the original on 2009-12-26. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  31. ↑ "2006 Endorsements " Nebraskans United for Life". nebraskansunitedforlife.org. Archived from the original on February 25, 2017. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  32. ↑ Brendan Dougherty, Michael (July 24, 2007). "Omaha Company's Windfall, Hiring of Lawmaker's Son Irks Senator". Fox News. Archived from the original on 2007-07-26. Retrieved July 24, 2007.
  33. ↑ Omaha World Herald, 8/3/2007, "Future of Nelson earmarks unclear"
  34. ↑ Omaha World Herald editorial August 16, 2007, The Oklahoman 8/6/2007, Senator attacks 'pork'; State avoids extra trims from Coburn
  35. 1 2 Murray, Shailagh, and Lori Montgomery. "Deal on health bill is reached". Washington Post. December 20, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  36. ↑ "Nelson Speaks on Senate Floor About Nelson–Hatch Amendment". Archived 2010-05-05 at the Wayback Machine Transcript of Nelson's remarks on Senate floor; press release on Nelson's Senate website. Archived 2010-05-05 at the Wayback Machine December 7, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  37. ↑ Kane, Paul. "To sway Nelson, a hard-won compromise on abortion issue". Washington Post. December 20, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  38. ↑ O'Brien, Michael. "CBO pegs Nelson's Nebraska Medicaid deal cost at $100 million". The Hill. December 20, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  39. ↑ Frates, Chris. "Payoffs for states get Harry Reid to 60 votes". Politico. December 19, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  40. ↑ Jordon, Steve (20 July 2017). "What was the 'Cornhusker Kickback,' the deal that led to Nelson's crucial ACA vote?". Omaha.com.
  41. ↑ "Tallying the Health Care Bill's Giveaways". CBS News. 21 December 2009.
  42. ↑ Hayworth, Bret. "Dems push back to defend Nelson health vote". Sioux City Journal. December 23, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  43. ↑ "Sen. Ben Nelson's Chronology". PBS Frontline. April 13, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  44. 1 2 Morton, Joseph. "'Cornhusker kickback' is toast". Omaha World-Herald. January 16, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  45. ↑ Walton, Don. "Nebraska Right to Life OKs Dave Heineman, abandons Ben Nelson". Lincoln Journal Star. April 14, 2010. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  46. ↑ Jordon, Steve (21 July 2017). "Ex-Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson, whose Obamacare vote caused controversy, says odds are against GOP on health care". Omaha.com.
  47. ↑ "Election 2012: Nebraska Senate" Rasmussen Reports. December 29, 2009. Retrieved April 26, 2010.
  48. ↑ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay, Jeff Zeleny, and Carl Hulse. "Health Vote Caps a Journey Back From the Brink". New York Times. March 20, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  49. 1 2 Herszenhorn, David. "Nelson to Vote Against Reconciliation Bill". New York Times. March 22, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  50. ↑ Stolberg, Sheryl Gay and Robert Pear. "Obama Calls for 'Up or Down Vote' on Health Care Bill". New York Times. March 22, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  51. ↑ Morton, Joseph. "Students win, firms like Nelnet lose". Omaha World-Herald. March 27, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  52. ↑ Olberding, Matt. "End of student loan program will mean job cuts at Nelnet". Lincoln Journal Star. March 26, 2010. Retrieved April 27, 2010.
  53. ↑ Walton, Don. "Nelson stands firm on health care reform." Lincoln Journal Star. September 30, 2011. Retrieved October 8, 2011.
  54. ↑ Toner, Robin (March 15, 2007). "Senate Rejects Measure for Iraq Pullout". The New York Times. Archived from the original on October 21, 2013. Retrieved March 15, 2007.
  55. ↑ "News Archive". The Hill. Archived from the original on December 9, 2007. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  56. 1 2 "CNN.com - Transcripts". CNN. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  57. 1 2 Independent Commission on the Security Forces of Iraq (September 6, 2007). Report to Congress (PDF) (Report). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 11, 2007. Retrieved 2007-09-20.
  58. ↑ "Nelson break ranks on Democratic call for Iraq pull out". Sioux City Journal. Archived from the original on 2012-09-19. Retrieved 2019-08-03.
  59. ↑ Newton-Small, Jay (6 February 2009). "Can Ben Nelson Get a Bipartisan Stimulus Win?". Time. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  60. ↑ Rudin, Ken (4 January 2006). "Judging Alito: The Gang of 14 Factor". NPR. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  61. ↑ "Senators compromise on filibusters". CNN. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  62. ↑ Roll Call Vote 109th Congress - 2nd Session (on the confirmation of Samuel Alito of New Jersey) Archived 2017-03-21 at the Wayback Machine , United States Senate , January 31, 2006. Retrieved November 26, 2018.
  63. ↑ Kirkpatrick, David D. (1 February 2006). "Alito Sworn In as Justice After Senate Gives Approval". The New York Times. Retrieved 26 November 2018.
  64. ↑ Stout, David (20 June 2005). "Republicans Fail to Force Senate Vote on Bolton's Nomination". The New York Times. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
  65. ↑ Adler, Jonathan (November 17, 2005). "Nelson on Alito". National Review . Archived from the original (online edition) on June 1, 2009. Retrieved May 15, 2009.
  66. ↑ John Stanton (2010-07-30). "Nebraska's Nelson Will Vote Against Kagan". Roll Call. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  67. ↑ "U.S. Senate: U.S. Senate Roll Call Votes 111th Congress - 2nd Session". Senate.gov. Retrieved 2024-07-17.
  68. ↑ Knapp, Fred (March 1, 1996). "Nelson doesn't want to be forced to recognize same-sex marriages". Lincoln Journal Star. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  69. ↑ "Key findings from Nebraska". Fremont Tribune. Fremont, Nebraska. Associated Press. November 8, 2000. Retrieved July 22, 2020.
  70. ↑ Rosenbaum, David E. (May 11, 2001). "CONGRESS ADOPTS BUDGET PROPOSAL WITH BIG TAX CUT". The New York Times. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  71. ↑ Moon, Matt (29 April 2009). "Specter Joins Nelson as Only Democrats Who Voted for 2001 and 2003 Tax Cuts". taxfoundation.org. Tax Foundation. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  72. ↑ "The Taxpayer Protection Pledge Signers 112th Congressional List" (PDF). ATR.org. Americans for Tax Reform. November 30, 2011. Retrieved November 30, 2011.
  73. ↑ Radman, Adam (December 14, 2009). "Ask Sen. Ben Nelson to Keep His Taxpayer Protection Pledge on Any Health Care Votes". ATR.org. Retrieved November 6, 2009.
  74. ↑ "OpenSecrets". opensecrets.org. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  75. ↑ Hammel, Paul (August 5, 2012). "Internet Sales Tax Proposals Gaining 'Likes' Among Lawmakers". Omaha World-Herald. Archived from the original on January 30, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2012.
  76. ↑ Enzi, Michael B. (November 9, 2011). "Text - S.1832 - 112th Congress (2011-2012): Marketplace Fairness Act". congress.gov. Archived from the original on September 20, 2013.
  77. ↑ "The Marketplace Fairness Act (S.698) official website". marketplacefairness.org. Archived from the original on October 28, 2016. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  78. ↑ Isaacson, George S. "Proposed Marketplace Fairness Act Threatens Direct Marketers". retailonlineintegration.com. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  79. ↑ "The Centrists" (PDF). National Journal. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-03-27. Retrieved 2007-02-09.
  80. ↑ "National Journal's 2007 Vote Ratings". Archived from the original on 2008-07-03. Retrieved 2007-02-23.
  81. ↑ "2010 Combined Ratings - Nebraska". conservative.org. Archived from the original on 13 February 2011. Retrieved 13 January 2022.
  82. ↑ "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. Archived from the original on August 9, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  83. ↑ "U.S. Senate: Legislation & Records Home > Votes > Roll Call Vote". Senate.gov. Archived from the original on August 14, 2010. Retrieved August 29, 2010.
  84. ↑ "NELSON OFFERS BIPARTISAN IRAQ RESOLUTION" (Press release). Archived from the original on 2007-01-28. Retrieved 2007-01-25.
  85. ↑ "Senate Vote 281 - Repeals 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell'". Archived 2015-10-27 at the Wayback Machine New York Times. January 26, 2011. Retrieved January 27, 2011.
  86. ↑ Weaver, Dustin (January 23, 2013). "Ben Nelson gets $1M payday". The Hill. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
  87. ↑ "Ben Nelson Named NAIC CEO" (Press release). National Association of Insurance Commissioners. January 22, 2013. Retrieved January 23, 2013.
  88. ↑ Morton, Joseph (14 October 2015). "Ex-Sen. Ben Nelson leaving insurance group CEO post, returning to private law practice in Nebraska, D.C." Omaha World-Herald. Retrieved 1 December 2019.
  89. ↑ "96 PRESIDENTIAL and CONGRESSIONAL ELECTION STATISTICS". house.gov. Retrieved January 16, 2017.
Party political offices
Preceded by Democratic nominee for Governor of Nebraska
1990, 1994 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Nebraska
(Class 2)
1996 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Democratic nominee for U.S. Senator from Nebraska
(Class 1)
2000, 2006 		Succeeded by
Political offices
Preceded by Governor of Nebraska
1991–1999		Succeeded by
U.S. Senate
Preceded by U.S. Senator (Class 1) from Nebraska
2001–2013
Served alongside: Chuck Hagel, Mike Johanns 		Succeeded by
U.S. order of precedence (ceremonial)
Preceded byas Former US Senator Order of precedence of the United States
as Former US Senator 		Succeeded byas Former US Senator
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