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Nelson Supports Health Bill After Tough Bargaining

By Beacon Staff

WASHINGTON – A holdout no more, Democratic Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson agreed Saturday to provide the 60th and deciding vote for Senate passage of sweeping health care legislation, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining.

Nelson had a brief response — “Yeah” — when asked whether he would support the measure as he strode into a private caucus of fellow Democrats.

With that vote, President Barack Obama’s Senate allies appear on track to pass the legislation by Christmas, overcoming Republican opposition and a swirling early winter snowstorm.

Nelson disclosed his decision as Majority leader Harry Reid unveiled a final series of changes to the measure, including concessions to Nelson on abortion, funding for his state and more.

The legislation includes new limits designed to limit insurance company profits and overhead, by requiring them to spend 80 percent of their premium income on medical care for individual insurance policies, and 85 percent for group policies.

On abortion, the measure would let states disallow coverage in new insurance exchanges.

The developments occurred as Republicans dug in to delay the inevitable for as long as possible. They objected when Reid sought permission for Nelson to announce his decision in a speech on the Senate floor, then forced Senate clerks to read aloud the text of the 383-page package of changes in the legislation, a process expected to consume hours.