Changes

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.

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.

In February 2009, Senator Nelson and Republican Senator [[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 Senator [[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>