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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 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 praised and voted for 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 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.

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 the Obama Administration, he has voted for Democratic initiatives such as health care, the economic stimulus package, and financial regulation.

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 [[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>