Health Wars

Nelson Threatens Pro-Life Filibuster

Threatens Democrats' self-impose Christmas deadline.

Just when the Democratic caucus pulled Lieberman back in, another dissenter has flown the coop: Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson has rejected an abortion compromise in the health-care bill and is threatening to filibuster, calling into question whether the Senate can pass the bill before the Dems' self-imposed Christmas deadline. Meanwhile, the AFL-CIO joined the SEIU in saying it won’t support the bill without “substantial changes”—namely, a public option, an employer mandate, and an elimination of a tax on so-called Cadillac plans. Bill Clinton, on the other hand, is urging passage of the bill: “Our only responsible choice is the path of action. Does this bill read exactly how I would write it? No. Does it contain everything everyone wants? Of course not. But America can't afford to let the perfect be the enemy of the good.”