Word: nelsons
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Dates: during 2000-2009
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...moderates are united in their disdain for what they consider extraneous spending in the massive economic package, which most Republicans are unwilling to support. Nelson and his Republican partner, Maine Senator Susan Collins, compiled a list all of the programs in which the Congressional Budget Offices estimated that less than 10% of funds would be spent in the first 18 months. From that list they selected about $100 billion in programs, mostly in education, state aid and science that, while perhaps worthy pursuits, they don't believe belong in the stimulus bill. At the same time, the coalition has also...
...Nelson says these talks, aimed at winning the backing of a filibuster-proof majority of at least 60 senators, have been the most complex he's engaged in. "The Gang of 14 was focused on a particular target, and that was to avoid the nuclear option," Nelson said in an interview with TIME. "Here, not everybody is supportive of a stimulus package to begin with, and all of us have questions about the amount and what's in the package. When that's the case, the number of differing opinions that you have multiplies...
...biggest sticking point for the moderate gang has been whether the Federal Government should grant states aid for education. "As a former governor, I didn't like it when [the Federal Government meddled with education] because they never funded it completely," Nelson said. "I'm prepared to make some adjustment in my attitude toward that if we can be sure that whatever we do on the federal level is temporary...
...finalized compromise: the group might tolerate some form of education funding for cash-strapped states as long as it doesn't create a new permanent mandate. "The challenge is to bring enough Republicans over to make it bipartisan, given some differences of opinion about education being in the bill," Nelson said. "But what we would hope is that both the Democrats and the Republicans decide that it is the best interest of the country to develop a consensus where everybody gives and everybody takes some...
...this point, Nelson has found a kindred spirit in Obama, who hosted the Nebraska Senator for a one-on-one meeting in the Oval Office on Wednesday. (Senator Collins had a similar meeting on Wednesday as well with the President.) On the table was not just passing a bill with the prerequisite 60 Senate votes to overcome the threat of a filibuster but establishing a mutual preoccupation with a durable centrist coalition. Obama "is interested in partnership here," Nelson said. "And for us to truly have a partnership, we're going to have to have people on both sides...