Changes

==Political career==

==Political career==

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 after a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than his opponent. In 2006 he 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]], Nelson became the most conervative Democat 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 conervative Democat 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 is strongly [[pro-life]]. 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 also praised President Bush's two nominees for the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], [[John Roberts]] and [[Samuel Alito]].  

Nelson is strongly [[pro-life]]. 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 also praised President Bush's two nominees for the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], [[John Roberts]] and [[Samuel Alito]].