Changes

==Political views==  

==Political views==  

Nelson is a conservative on many issues and his votes have placed him at odds with the leadership of his party. A 2007 National Journal congressional vote rating placed him to the right of eight Senate Republicans. He was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the 2002 Campaign Reform Act (also known as McCain-Feingold). Nelson supports eliminating the estate tax and voted in favor of both the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He voted for the 2006 Federal Marriage Amendment. He is also strongly pro-life. He voted for criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other 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]]. On June 28, 2007, Nelson voted against Senate immigration bill S 1639, calling it "amnesty." Some of Nelson's positions that are well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party. He has voted consistently against drilling in the [[Arctic National Wildlife Refuge]]. He has also come out opposed to President Bush's plan to send an additional 21,500 troops to [[Iraq]].

Nelson is a conservative on many issues and his votes have placed him at odds with the leadership of his party. A 2007 National Journal congressional vote rating placed him to the right of eight Senate Republicans. He was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the 2002 Campaign Reform Act (also known as McCain-Feingold). Nelson supports eliminating the estate tax and voted in favor of both the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He voted for the 2006 Federal Marriage Amendment. He is also strongly pro-life. He voted for criminal penalty for harming unborn fetus during other 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]]. On June 28, 2007, Nelson voted against Senate immigration bill S 1639, calling it "amnesty." Some of Nelson's positions that are well within the mainstream of the Democratic Party. He has voted consistently 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 February 2009, Senator Nelson and [[liberal]] Republican Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] reached a compromise to reduce $100 billion from the 2009 economic spending package, with it still totaling $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 [[liberal]] Republican Senator [[Susan Collins]] of [[Maine]] reached a compromise to reduce $100 billion from the 2009 economic spending package, with it still totaling $787 billion. It passed on a 60-38 vote. <ref>http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2009/02/6038_senate_passes_stimulus.html</ref>