Nelson: Offutt claims false

WASHINGTON — As Senate Democrats race to finish a health care bill before Christmas, both sides are going to great lengths to exert pressure on Sen. Ben Nelson.

The Nebraska Democrat on Tuesday dismissed reports by conservative pundits that the White House threatened to close Offutt Air Force Base if Nelson fails to support the legislation.

The importance of Nelson's vote was highlighted by a half-hour, one-on-one meeting he had Tuesday at the White House with President Barack Obama.

Columnist Michelle Malkin, who reported the Offutt rumor citing anonymous Capitol Hill sources, also reported that Nelson had been promised a “bribe bigger than Sen. Landrieu's.”

That's a reference to Louisiana Sen. Mary Landrieu, a Democrat and one of the last hold-outs on the vote to begin the health care debate. The legislation includes a provision for additional Medicaid funds for Louisiana that Landrieu says is worth $300 million.

Nelson said no one has ever brought up Offutt's future in connection with negotiations over health care or any other piece of legislation. He also denied any suggestion that he might receive a “blank check” to write provisions into the legislation, and said his vote is not for sale.

Dan Pfeiffer, White House communications director, said the Offutt rumor was an effort to undermine health reform and called it “absurd.”

“To be perfectly clear: these rumors are completely baseless and false,” he said.

Nelson's meeting with Obama followed a general meeting that Obama held with the rest of the Senate's Democratic caucus. Afterward, Obama said he didn't count votes but believes consensus exists on key elements.

“What I told my former colleagues today is that we simply cannot allow differences over individual elements of this plan to prevent us from meeting our responsibility to solve a longstanding and urgent problem for the American people,” Obama said.

Nelson said after his meeting with Obama that the president made his case for how much the bill has improved. Nelson said he agreed with that, but suggested various ways it could be improved further. He said he made no commitment to support the legislation in the end.

“The president makes a good case,” Nelson said. “It remains to be seen whether it's compelling.”

Nelson welcomed reports that a new government insurance plan, or public option, and a proposed expansion of Medicare are both likely to be dropped from consideration.

“It eliminates a couple of major hurdles, but there's still the whole question about abortion,” he said.

Nelson has said the bill's restrictions on federal funding for abortion coverage need to be tightened.

The intensity of the debate could be seen Tuesday on the street corners outside Nelson's Omaha office. Two dueling groups stood in the frigid weather, waving competing signs.

“Big government = Little Freedom,” read one opponent's sign.

“Stop the Road Block,” read a supporter's sign.

Many of the about 50 opponents were mobilized by The 60 Plus Association, which bills itself as a conservative alternative to AARP.

Several said they feared Nelson would buckle to pressure from his party and support the measure. Several others said they feared the measure would raise taxes and weaken Medicare, the government health insurance program for senior citizens.

“I agree we need something done, but I think we need to take baby steps,” said Teri Saddler, 65, of Omaha.

Most of the 15 supporters of the health-care bill were mobilized by MoveOn.org. A group that includes American Cancer Society National President Dr. Alan Thorson of Omaha as well as representatives from AARP, Nebraska Appleseed and Change That Works announced a press conference today to advocate for the bill's passage.

Supporters Tuesday argued something needs to be done now to insure more Americans. Several said they were angry with Nelson for “blocking” the measure, and forcing Democratic leaders to “water it down.”

Dan McMullen, 65, said he was a nurse for about 20 years and saw people lose everything to help pay for medical care.

In Washington, red-clad conservative activists held a rally on Capitol Hill to oppose the bill, then poured into Senate offices. The front lobby to Nelson's office was packed.

A few were from Nebraska and had the chance to meet with Nelson aides. One of those was Alan Bastyr, of York, Neb. After hearing about the rally on the radio, he departed Lincoln on a bus Sunday and arrived in Washington about 5 a.m. Tuesday.

Bastyr said he's worried about the way he'll be treated as a blind person under the bill.

“They're just talking about all this spending and how it's going hurt senior citizens,” he said. “It just kind of scared me.”

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