Nebraska Compromise
Encyclopedia
The Nebraska Compromise or Cornhusker Kickback refers to a deal made in December 2009 by United States Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid
to Nebraska’s Democratic Senator Ben Nelson
, allegedly in order to secure his vote as the last Democratic hold-out for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
and provide the Democrats with the required 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster
. Concessions that were said to have been granted included a provision allowing states to restrict funding for abortions under certain circumstances, as well as a provision giving Nebraska 100 percent federal funding of the Medicaid
expansion indefinitely into the future.
Ben Nelson had earlier threatened to filibuster with Republicans when language he proposed to restrict federal funding of abortion was not added to the Bill.
Senator Kent Conrad
of North Dakota, a Democrat, said that the deal was not unusual, and that states often received individualized treatment based on the priorities of their representatives. Three months prior to the Nebraska Compromise, Reid secured within the health care bill 100 percent funding for Medicaid in Nevada.
Eventually, a later version of the bill gave all states 100 percent funding for the first three years of the Medicaid expansion, with the exception of the above provision made for Nebraska. For all other states the costs would be about 15 cents on every $1 they receive from the federal government.
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
repealed and removed the deal. Nelson voted against the reconciliation bill, however it was able to pass without his vote.
United States Senate
The United States Senate is the upper house of the bicameral legislature of the United States, and together with the United States House of Representatives comprises the United States Congress. The composition and powers of the Senate are established in Article One of the U.S. Constitution. Each...
Majority Leader Harry Reid
Harry Reid
Harry Mason Reid is the senior United States Senator from Nevada, serving since 1987. A member of the Democratic Party, he has been the Senate Majority Leader since January 2007, having previously served as Minority Leader and Minority and Majority Whip.Previously, Reid was a member of the U.S...
to Nebraska’s Democratic Senator Ben Nelson
Ben Nelson
Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson is the senior U.S. Senator from Nebraska. He is a member of the Democratic Party and was elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000....
, allegedly in order to secure his vote as the last Democratic hold-out for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act is a United States federal statute signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 23, 2010. The law is the principal health care reform legislation of the 111th United States Congress...
and provide the Democrats with the required 60 votes needed to overcome a Republican filibuster
Filibuster
A filibuster is a type of parliamentary procedure. Specifically, it is the right of an individual to extend debate, allowing a lone member to delay or entirely prevent a vote on a given proposal...
. Concessions that were said to have been granted included a provision allowing states to restrict funding for abortions under certain circumstances, as well as a provision giving Nebraska 100 percent federal funding of the Medicaid
Medicaid
Medicaid is the United States health program for certain people and families with low incomes and resources. It is a means-tested program that is jointly funded by the state and federal governments, and is managed by the states. People served by Medicaid are U.S. citizens or legal permanent...
expansion indefinitely into the future.
Ben Nelson had earlier threatened to filibuster with Republicans when language he proposed to restrict federal funding of abortion was not added to the Bill.
Senator Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad
Kent Conrad is the senior United States Senator from North Dakota. He is a member of the North Dakota Democratic-NPL Party, the North Dakota affiliate of the Democratic Party...
of North Dakota, a Democrat, said that the deal was not unusual, and that states often received individualized treatment based on the priorities of their representatives. Three months prior to the Nebraska Compromise, Reid secured within the health care bill 100 percent funding for Medicaid in Nevada.
Eventually, a later version of the bill gave all states 100 percent funding for the first three years of the Medicaid expansion, with the exception of the above provision made for Nebraska. For all other states the costs would be about 15 cents on every $1 they receive from the federal government.
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010
The Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010 is a law that was enacted by the 111th United States Congress, by means of the reconciliation process, in order to amend the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act...
repealed and removed the deal. Nelson voted against the reconciliation bill, however it was able to pass without his vote.