You thought LA Senator Mary Landrieu's $300M bribe was bad

[brian0918]

To buy Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson's crucial 60th vote, Harry Reid put language into the healthcare bill that forces taxpayers in the other 49 states to forever pay the increased state costs of Medicaid in Nebraska.

The Reid legislation greatly expands Medicaid eligibility. Because Medicaid is a program whose costs are split between the federal and state governments, this expansion in eligibility raise costs dramatically for states. States will be forced to either raise taxes or cut other services to accommodate the forced increase in Medicaid spending.

Unless that state is Nebraska.

Below is the text for Nelson’s bribe. Under this language the federal government will forever cover the costs of Medicaid expansion in Nebraska. Taxpayers in every other state will forever be responsible for the expanded Medicaid program in Nebraska.

Any estimates about how much this bribe will ultimately amount to? Right now it's effectively unlimited - a blank check.

I wonder if this will turn Nebraska into the new retirement capital of America. Sorry Florida

Edited December 20, 2009 by brian0918

[Capitalism Forever]

This Nelson guy is a total dope. He could have asked for $300 million into his bank account and a Presidential pardon for accepting the bribe and he would have gotten it.