In D.C., breakfast and jokes

WASHINGTON - Let the season of bad jokes begin.

Wednesday marked the year's first Nebraska Breakfast, a weekly gathering on Capitol Hill where visiting Nebraskans have the chance to meet with members of the state's congressional delegation.

Rep. Lee Terry, R-Neb., kicked things off by noting that many lawmakers have been absent from Washington the past couple of weeks due to a series of snow storms and a regularly scheduled recess week.

"It's nice to just be back in the Cornhusker state and ‘kick back' a little bit," Terry said.

That was a reference to to what critics have called the "Cornhusker kickback," a provision that exempts Nebraska from additional Medicaid costs under the health care bill. It was tucked into the bill as Senate leaders sought to persuade Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., to cast the crucial 60th vote to advance the legislation.

The joke was greeted at first by near silence from the audience, while Nelson studied some papers in front of him.

"Oh come on," Terry said and the crowd offered up a few chuckles. "All right, I tried , Ben."

Nelson looked up with a shrug and an unenthusiastic smile.

President Barack Obama's proposed health care bill would remove the Medicaid exemption and extend relief to all states, which Nelson says was the intent all along.

Terry might want to watch his back -- Nelson prides himself on his practical joke skills and payback is assured.

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