Democratic Sen. Ben Nelson (Neb.) and Republican Sen. Tom Coburn (Okla.) — two senators close to conservative elements of their opposing parties — on Sunday staked out opposing positions on Saturday's successful Senate healthcare reform bill, each arguing for their party's positions but on different platforms.
On ABC's "This Week," host George Stephanopolous immediately asked Nelson point-blank whether he would support the Democratic-written bill that passed on a procedural vote of 60-39 on Saturday night on a final vote as written. Nelson answered, "No."
[...] Nelson is key to a handful of centrist Democrats who control healthcare in the Senate debate. The Nebraska senator was among a very few Democrats who withheld their voting intentions until the last few days and hours of Saturday's vote, which must now be followed by weeks of debate, House-Senate conference talks, and a final congressional vote probably in January.
SOURCE: The Hill
