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 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==  

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]].

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. Under the Obama Administration, he has voted for Democratic initiatives such as health care, 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, 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>