Nelson comments on abortion compromise

Thursday, December 17, 2009

WASHINGTON -- Today, Nebraska's Senator Ben Nelson praised provisions in an abortion compromise adding new teen pregnancy initiatives and tax credits for adoption, while saying that the language working to ban public funding of abortion is not sufficient at this point.

Senator Nelson said today a proposed compromise he's studied does not yet ensure that a longstanding federal standard barring public funding of abortion would be maintained in the Senate health care bill the Senate has been debating this month.

Nelson said without further improvements the compromise is not sufficient.

"The compromise adds important new initiatives addressing teen pregnancy and tax credits to help with adoptions," Senator Nelson said. "These are valuable improvements that will make a positive difference and promote life. But as it is, without modifications, the language concerning abortion is not sufficient."

Senator Nelson reiterated that he will not be able to support a cloture motion needing 60 votes to end debate on the underlying Senate bill if certain language in the bill remains. The existing language allows public funds to pay for abortion, thus relaxing the longstanding Hyde amendment.

He said today that he is open to looking at additional attempts to maintain the federal restriction on public funding of abortion.

Comments
View 12 comments
Note: The nature of the Internet makes it impractical for our staff to review every comment. Please note that those who post comments on this website may do so using a screen name, which may or may not reflect a website user's actual name. Readers should be careful not to assign comments to real people who may have names similar to screen names. Refrain from obscenity in your comments, and to keep discussions civil, don't say anything in a way your grandmother would be ashamed to read.
  • Another right wing religious whaco that wants to control women. Next he will want to pass laws that prohibit Hysterectomies and Vasectomies because one of those little eggs or sperm might be pregnant. Don't let them have an abortion but let the state support them because you won't find any of the fanatics adopting them.

    -- Posted by Oh what a wonderful day on Thu, Dec 17, 2009, at 10:16 PM
  • Strangely enough, despite the frequent denials by some, Christians adopt frequently, donate more money than liberals to children's causes, support pregnant women and mothers with all needs, and generally live up to Christ's commands to care for the needy.

    On the other hand, those that support the wholesale slaughter of unborn humans donate less money, expect Uncle Sam to care for the needy, and quote costs as a good reason to support abortion.

    Of course, those that support abortion also deny the humanity of the unborn child, as though women might possibly be carrying something non-human. They compare the unborn child to a parasite and a cancer. They insist that whackos want to control women without ever facing the fact that 1/2 the babies slaughtered would be women.

    They also say completely ridiculous things, like the sperm OR the egg are just as much entitled to life as an embryo...completely ignoring scientific and medical facts.

    After all, why let medical and scientific facts stand in the way of a cherished right-to-murder?

    -- Posted by MrsSmith on Fri, Dec 18, 2009, at 7:37 AM
  • There isn't one person in the church I use to attend that has adopted but they sure are against abortion. It seems like the movie stars which are supporters of abortion adopt a lot of children. Don't be a pregant woman out of wedlock, if you go to church you will be shunned.

    -- Posted by Oh what a wonderful day on Fri, Dec 18, 2009, at 10:59 AM
  • Sure is amasing how he keeps dragging his feet and votes yes & no. He always comes up with something too change the subject and people forget what he is doing

    Seems he always has a big smile on his face thinking how much money he can make being bought off.

    Looks like a typical politician.

    If he is so worried about abortion, WHY dont he check the Sex Education classes taught in school. Maybe some one else isn't doing their job. Tax dollars at work!!!!!!

    -- Posted by Just a reader on Fri, Dec 18, 2009, at 12:26 PM
  • Ben Nelson doing as he always said about whats best for McCook and Nebraska and sticking to his guns so far anyway.....any politcal bonus he gets will help all us in Nebraska. I hope they go back and get it right and who cares if it takes till summer but get it right the first time.....

    -- Posted by Cornwhisperer on Fri, Dec 18, 2009, at 12:52 PM
  • *

    Well fredd, I can only assume from your post about women having control of their own bodies that you are also for prostitution, STD's and all that.

    On a second note, we adopted two children in our family and thank the Lord for it. You must have your head in the sand to think there are no families that want to adopt children. Why do you think families are on waiting lists to adopt kids?

    Please change your "none" to two in your previous post because you now know of two adopted children.

    As for Benedict Nelson, who is really surprised by his vote? Unfortunately he got bought off for a lot less than the LA Senator got. Nebraska could have used the money!!

    -- Posted by ksfarmer on Sat, Dec 19, 2009, at 7:33 PM
  • Heaven forbid anyone with a McCook address say anything negative about Benedict Nelson, but the facts speak for themselves; he mislead the good people of Nebraska - plain and simple.

    You don't tell someone on Wednesday that you can't support the healthcare bill because it allows for government-funded abortions and is too expensive all the way around, then 72 hours later vote "Yea" and justify your 180-degree turnaround by saying that Reid and his cronies re-wrote some key words to offer a seperate plan that does not allow the abortion procedure.

    This has NOTHING to do with adopting orphans or contracting STD's (you people amaze me with your ignorance sometimes), it is only about a Senator who [metaphorically] shot himself in the foot.

    I don't think I would be going too far out on a limb by saying Nebraska's next US Senator will have the last name of "Heineman" or "Bruning". Those two men are much less likely to bow to the powerbrokers on Capitol Hill than Nelson did. He says he does not succumb to peer pressure (see his interview dated 12-16-09), but the 'about face' he did on Saturday proves otherwise.

    Thanks Senator Nelson...you really paid attention to the voters of Nebraska!

    -- Posted by Justin Case on Mon, Dec 21, 2009, at 4:24 PM
  • the bottom line is that nelson didn't do the job he was voted in to do. his job as senator is to represent the state he was elected to. how can you say that this was done in light of his "yes" vote. the majority of nebraskans are against this bill, nelsons vote should have reflected the states wishes. propasitions of this nature should be determined by the majority of the people and what they want for our country. the majority of nebraskans (and americans) have stated their opinions very clearly... and that is NO to reform. and as far as abortion goes, you can't single out christians for being against it. abortion has nothing to do with a woman's rights. thats the most uneducated assumption i've heard when it comes to this argument. it takes both a man and a woman to create a child, therefor its insane to give the decision to murder the child to just one of the parents. this is not a christian arguement at all. its too obvious to have to include God. how can you critisize the church for not adopting when the waiting list for adoption is so enormous. and the governments red tape has made it so hard for loving people to adopt anyways. you can hardly adopt as a single person in this country but we encourage you to go ahead and murder your child if the timing just isn't right for you. these murdered children were to be the future of our country. for those of you who want to argue that is a womans choice to abort a baby should also agree that it is my choice not to pay for it. what kind of government would even attempt to force its people to fund something they are morally against? i dont care if they take abortion out. it's the fact that this bill contained abortion in the first place that really rattles me. americans need help. help finding jobs. good jobs. all these new taxes are making it more and more difficult for all of us. by fining bussiness owners and adding more taxes for them who do you think will pay? the worker will pay. layoffs, demotions, pay cuts and dropped benefits will be the direct result of nelsons decision. i cant wait to vote him out. out of the senate and politics all together. i am ashamed to say i am from the same town as this backstabber. and i am embarassed that our city is actually going to put a statue of him downtown.

    -- Posted by ne_norman on Mon, Dec 21, 2009, at 5:07 PM
  • Here's your answer fredd. ONE.

    -- Posted by Hugh Jassle on Mon, Dec 21, 2009, at 8:36 PM
  • I forgot to ask, fredd, how many unwanted children have you adopted?

    -- Posted by Hugh Jassle on Mon, Dec 21, 2009, at 8:38 PM
  • Yes I have adopted and only adopted. KSfarmer has to say this because he receives all our taxpayers subsidies so he can buy a new truck and we can drive 10 year old cars. Seems he knows a lot about STD and Prostitution, I do too, I have enjoyed both. I think he got is tongue twisted though, there isn't a waiting list for people to adopt, there is a huge waiting list of children to be adopted. If all these whacos against abortion would adopt one then the list would be recuced to zero.

    -- Posted by Oh what a wonderful day on Wed, Dec 23, 2009, at 3:30 PM
  • If you read other stories from other sources its amasing how hard Ben Nelson was trying too get people too believe he was that only one doing anything. Bragging he voted yes and no and was the last one to vote. But, it seems there were others doing so much more.

    He is really trying to become famous but looks like he is in the middle of the stream not knowing what bank to get on.

    Another trying to be a famous politician that needs to be taken out of office.

    Good try Ben, BUT, you got lost somewhere!!!!!

    -- Posted by Just a reader on Thu, Dec 24, 2009, at 10:05 PM
Respond to this story

Posting a comment requires free registration: