Posted on 12/19/2009 2:32:04 PM PST by bw17
Nelson’s Nebraska To Receive Extra Medicaid Funds Under Senate Bill
This morning’s managers amendment to the merged Senate health bill goes a long way towards satisfying the demands of Democratic hold-out and all-important 60th vote Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE).
Nelson has recently complained that the proposed expansion of Medicaid to those earning below 133% of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL) would burden his state of Nebraska and suggested that states should be able to opt-in to the program.
Under the current merged legislation (the version unveiled on November 18th), the federal government fully finances care for the expanded population for two years and increases its matching funds (known as FMAP) thereafter. Page 98 of the managers amendment specifically identifies Nebraska for higher federal matching funds, fully funding its expansion for an additional year:
‘‘(3) Notwithstanding subsection (b) and paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection, the Federal medical assistance percentage otherwise determined under subsection (b) with respect to all or any portion of a fiscal year that begins on or after January 1, 2017, for the State of Nebraska, with respect to amounts expended for newly eligible individuals described in subclause (VIII) of section 1902(a)(10)(A)(i), shall be determined as provided for under subsection (y)(1) (A) (notwithstanding the period provided for in such paragraph)
Subsection (y)(1)(A) refers to page 399 of the original merged Senate legislation which fully funds state Mediciad expansions for the first two years. The manager’s amendment also provides 2.2% increase in FMAP to help states finance their existing Medicaid programs.
This clause clearly designated "local welfare" specific to Nebraska. It should be immediately challenged by Republicans before Nelson votes, so that he knows that he'll be getting none of the pork promised him once the bill is challenged in the Supreme Court.
Hahahahaha! The Constitution... how quaint.
"Ben" Nelson, not "Bill." Bill Nelson is the Dem senator from Florida, Ben Nelson is from Nebraska.
Your statement should be sent to all the Republican Senators. Maybe someone will get the right idea.
Republicans don’t care about the Constitution, either.
Correct. I typed it too hastily. My wife is hovering over my shoulder telling me that company is coming in 25 minutes.
Mods, please correct the title.
Correct. I typed it too hastily. My wife is hovering over my shoulder telling me that company is coming in 25 minutes.
Mods, please correct the title.
The whole thing is unconstitutional - why should an unconstitutional amendment slow things down?
Besides - they will probably strip this in conference anyway - don’t they only need 51 votes to pass the combined version?
“Ben” Nelson, not “Bill.” Bill Nelson is the Dem senator from Florida, Ben Nelson is from Nebraska.”
Is there really a difference? They both suck.
No State or District should be exempt from this if it is passed. These state deals are utter BS and only compound the problem for the other States liable to pick up what the exempt States will not have to pay.
Nelson's not an idiot. He knows he won't get a dime of those funds. This is all a charade so he can sell his vote back home, nothing more.
The whole forsaken thing is unconstitutional and so is the Kenyan born freak who pretends to lead our nation, but that doesn’t stop this crooked bunch on of democrats. This is the most corrupt bunch of politicians our nation has ever known. They are third world. They commit fraud in the open. They are shameless.
How are these turncoats going to go out in public after this?Providing security for the bums would seem to be a huge undertaking after a betrayal of this magnitude.
This is all a charade so he can sell his vote back home, nothing more.
You are correct! I believe Nelson was the State AG before he was a Senator. He knows he has to feign caring about the citizens back home while he supports the dem socialist agenda.
I'm afraid you are correct. This is just another "earmark". It's maybe bigger than most earmarks but I doubt if it's a record breaker. The Congress hands out special favors to anybody and any institution, state, city, individual, company or corporation that it likes. That's what Congress does. That's why people want to be in Congress. They want to be the ones handing out the favors.
But, of course, I hope the constitutional lawyers do decide to attack this monstrous bill. But be forewarned - the decision will be entirely up to the unpredictable Justice Kennedy. There are 4 justices who vote based on the Constitution. You have 4 votes based on whatever the Democrats want the answer to be. But Kennedy votes the Constitution on occasion, international law on occasion and personal feelings on occasion. He's an absolute wild-card.
Call, email, fax (this is my favorite option), visit these five senators. Do it now - before the 8:00 est vote in the Senate.
Webb
http://webb.senate.gov
Phone: 202-224-4024
Fax: 202-228-6363
Landrieu
http://landrieu.senate.gov
Phone: (202)224-5824
Fax:(202) 224-9735
Lincoln
http://lincoln.senate.gov
(202) 224-4843
Fax (202) 228-1371
Bayh
http://bayh.senate.gov
Phone: (202) 224-5623
Fax: (202) 228-1377
Lieberman
http://lieberman.senate.gov
Phone: 202.224.4041
Fax: 202.224.9750
Might be a couple of them that do.........keeping fingers crossed.
Maybe one or two. But they’re pushed to the fringes by the likes of Graham and McConnell.
There are no shame or rules for the new Communists Party (formally the Democratic socialists party). Nelson is a member of this new Communists Party, so nothing new.
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