Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told ABC News that he’ll help block health care reform if it looks like the House bill that passed this weekend.
Nelson’s problem, he said, is with the public option in the House legislation.
“Well, first of all, it has more than a robust public option, it’s got a totally government-run plan, the costs are extraordinary associated with it, it increases taxes in a way that will not pass in the Senate and I could go on and on and on,” Nelson said.
“Faced with a decision about whether or not to move a bill that is bad, I won’t vote to move it,” he said.
The Senate bill must, however, have similar language to the House bill concerning abortion, Nelson said. He won’t vote for it otherwise.
An amendment introduced by Rep. Bart Stupak (D-MI) prohibits the public option from covering abortion. It also prohibits women who receive federal subsidies from purchasing an insurance plan that covers abortion.
