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Ben Nelson was elected governor of Nebraska in 1990 and reelected in 1994. Nelson cut the sales and income tax, and $157 million in state spending. He was able to pass eight balanced budgets. He ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1996, but was defeated by [[Republican]] war hero [[Chuck Hagel]]. Nelson left the governor's office in January 1999 after two terms and was succeeded by Republican [[Mike Johanns]]. Nelson was again nominated by the Democrats for the Senate in 2000 after his fellow Democrat, incumbent Bob Kerrey, announced his retirement. Nelson won with 50.99% of the vote in a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than his opponent. In 2006, Nelson was reelected by a much wider margin, winning with 64% of the vote.  

Ben Nelson was elected governor of Nebraska in 1990 and reelected in 1994. Nelson cut the sales and income tax, and $157 million in state spending. He was able to pass eight balanced budgets. He ran for a seat in the U.S. Senate in 1996, but was defeated by [[Republican]] war hero [[Chuck Hagel]]. Nelson left the governor's office in January 1999 after two terms and was succeeded by Republican [[Mike Johanns]]. Nelson was again nominated by the Democrats for the Senate in 2000 after his fellow Democrat, incumbent Bob Kerrey, announced his retirement. Nelson won with 50.99% of the vote in a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than his opponent. In 2006, Nelson was reelected by a much wider margin, winning with 64% of the vote.  

==Political views==  

==Political views==

Next to [[Zell Miller]], Ben Nelson became the most [[conservative Democrat]] in the Senate, with his votes often placing him at odds with the leadership of the Democratic Party. A 2007 National Journal congressional vote rating placed him to the right of eight Senate Republicans. <ref>http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm</ref> He was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the 2002 Campaign Reform Act ([[McCain-Feingold]]). Nelson supports eliminating the estate tax and voted in favor with the [[Bush administration]]'s tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He voted for the 2006 Federal Marriage Amendment. <ref>http://www.hrc.org/issues/5556.htm</ref>

Next to [[Zell Miller]], Ben Nelson became the most [[conservative Democrat]] in the Senate, with his votes often placing him at odds with the leadership of the Democratic Party. A 2007 National Journal congressional vote rating placed him to the right of eight Senate Republicans.<ref>http://www.nationaljournal.com/voteratings/sen/cons.htm</ref> He was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the 2002 Campaign Reform Act ([[McCain-Feingold]]). Nelson supports eliminating the estate tax and voted in favor with the [[Bush administration]]'s tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He voted for the 2006 Federal Marriage Amendment.<ref>http://www.hrc.org/issues/5556.htm</ref>

Nelson pretends to be [[pro-life]], but voted for the pro-[[abortion]] [[ObamaCare]]. From 2007-2008 he earned an 85% rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]]. <ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=21744</ref> He voted for the imposition of criminal penalties when an  unborn fetus was harmed during the commission of a crime and is against embryonic stem cell research. Nelson praised and voted for [[President Bush]]'s two nominees for the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], [[John Roberts]] and [[Samuel Alito]]. Additionally, he was the only Democrat who voted against the Senate confirmation of [[President Obama]]'s second Supreme Court nominee, [[Elena Kagan]].

Nelson pretends to be [[pro-life]], but voted for the pro-[[abortion]] [[ObamaCare]]. From 2007-2008 he earned an 85% rating from the [[National Right to Life Committee]].<ref>http://www.votesmart.org/issue_rating_category.php?can_id=21744</ref> He voted for the imposition of criminal penalties when an  unborn fetus was harmed during the commission of a crime and is against embryonic stem cell research. Nelson praised and voted for [[President Bush]]'s two nominees for the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], [[John Roberts]] and [[Samuel Alito]]. Additionally, he was the only Democrat who voted against the Senate confirmation of [[President Obama]]'s second Supreme Court nominee, [[Elena Kagan]].

Some of Nelson's positions fall well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party: he has consistently voted against drilling in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]]. He also opposed President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to [[Iraq]] in January 2007. Under the [[Obama Administration]], he has voted for Democratic initiatives such as health care reform, the economic stimulus package, and financial regulation.

Some of Nelson's positions fall well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party: he has consistently voted against drilling in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]]. He also opposed President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to [[Iraq]] in January 2007. Under the [[Obama Administration]], he has voted for Democratic initiatives such as health care reform, the economic stimulus package, and financial regulation.

In February 2009, Senator Nelson and Republican [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] reached a deal that cut $100 billion from the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], with it still totalling $787 billion. It passed on a 60-38 vote. <ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/02/6038_senate_passes_stimulus.html</ref>  

In February 2009, Senator Nelson and Republican [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] reached a deal that cut $100 billion from the [[American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009]], with it still totalling $787 billion. It passed on a 60-38 vote.<ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/02/6038_senate_passes_stimulus.html</ref>  

Ben Nelson voted to allow debate for an $848 billion [[health care]] reform bill <ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Sen-Ben-Nelson-will-vote-to-start-health-care-debate-70633422.html</ref> and announced he would vote for the final passage of the bill. <ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2009/1219/Ben-Nelson-backs-healthcare-reform-bill-Dems-see-finish-line</ref> Nebraska was the lone state that received a controversial $100 million [[medicare]] expansion deal, after his 60th vote was pivotal. Once one of the most popular Senators in the nation, Nelson's approval ratings have plummeted to 40%. <ref>http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1209/Poll_Ben_Nelson_in_political_trouble.html</ref>

Ben Nelson voted to allow debate for an $848 billion [[health care]] reform bill <ref>http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/beltway-confidential/Sen-Ben-Nelson-will-vote-to-start-health-care-debate-70633422.html</ref> and announced he would vote for the final passage of the bill.<ref>http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2009/1219/Ben-Nelson-backs-healthcare-reform-bill-Dems-see-finish-line</ref> Nebraska was the lone state that received a controversial $100 million [[medicare]] expansion deal, after his 60th vote was pivotal. Once one of the most popular Senators in the nation, Nelson's approval ratings have plummeted to 40%.<ref>http://www.politico.com/blogs/scorecard/1209/Poll_Ben_Nelson_in_political_trouble.html</ref>

==External links==

==External links==

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[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Former United States Senators]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]

[[Category:Democratic Party]]