Heineman to Nelson: Vote no

LINCOLN -- Calling the federal health care reform proposal "bad news for Nebraska," Gov. Dave Heineman is urging Sen. Ben Nelson to vote against the bill.

Nelson, a Democrat, has emerged as a key player in the debate as he has yet to state whether he will support or oppose the bill being considered in the Senate. Heineman, a Republican, has voiced concerns about the cost of the reform bill to the states.

The governor said Wednesday that a new analysis by Nebraska Department of Health and Human Services indicates that while state spending on Medicaid, the health care system for the poor, would be less in the first three years after the bill took effect, Nebraska, after six years, would have $45 million in extra expenses.

"America’s health care system needs improvement, but this bill is not the answer," Heineman said in a letter to Nelson. "You are now the 60th vote, and as Governor of the State that we both represent, I urge you to vote against this bill and against cloture."

- Paul Hammel

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