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What is Ben Nelson's Price?

4:55 PM, Dec 15, 2009 • By MATTHEW CONTINETTI
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Now that Joe Lieberman killed the public option and Medicare buy-in, he seems to be moving toward a vote for health care reform. All eyes thus turn to Ben Nelson, who has been threatened and cajoled into a Yes vote, as well.

Say the threats don't work, and Harry Reid has to appease Nelson just as he did with Lieberman. What will Nelson's price be? In all likelihood, assurances that Offutt Air Force Base won't be closed, and that tax dollars won't be used to pay for abortions, will be necessary but not sufficient to gain Nelson's approval.

Reid gave Mary Landrieu hundreds of millions in Medicaid dollars to secure her vote to debate the health care bill. How much will he give Nelson to vote to end the debate?

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