Difference between revisions of "Ben Nelson"
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| − | '''Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson''' (born May 17, | + | '''Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson''' (born May 17, 1941) is the junior U.S. Senator from [[Nebraska]] and a member of the [[Democratic]] Party. He is well known for being one of the few moderate Democrats in the U.S. Senate. He has high approval rating's in his home state of Nebraska. President [[George W. Bush]] has nicknamed Nelson "The Benator." Originally, Bush nicknamed him "Nellie," but Nelson jokingly complained that he would prefer a "tougher" nickname. |
==Political career== | ==Political career== | ||
| − | Ben Nelson was elected governor of Nebraska in 1990 and reelected in | + | Ben Nelson was elected governor of Nebraska in 1990 and reelected in 1994. Nelson, a fiscal [[conservative]], cut the sales tax and income tax and cut $157 million in spending. He also 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 that election with 50.99% of the vote after a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than his opponent. In 2006 he was reelected by a much larger margin. |
==Political views== | ==Political views== | ||
| − | Nelson | + | 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. |
==External links== | ==External links== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
| − | [http://bennelson.senate.gov/], ''Ben Nelson | + | [http://bennelson.senate.gov/], ''Ben Nelson Senate website'' |
[[Category:US Senators]] | [[Category:US Senators]] | ||
Revision as of 04:51, July 13, 2007
Earl Benjamin "Ben" Nelson (born May 17, 1941) is the junior U.S. Senator from Nebraska and a member of the Democratic Party. He is well known for being one of the few moderate Democrats in the U.S. Senate. He has high approval rating's in his home state of Nebraska. President George W. Bush has nicknamed Nelson "The Benator." Originally, Bush nicknamed him "Nellie," but Nelson jokingly complained that he would prefer a "tougher" nickname.
Political career
Ben Nelson was elected governor of Nebraska in 1990 and reelected in 1994. Nelson, a fiscal conservative, cut the sales tax and income tax and cut $157 million in spending. He also 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 that election with 50.99% of the vote after a campaign in which he spent 50% more ($1,004,985) than his opponent. In 2006 he was reelected by a much larger margin.
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.
External links
[1], Ben Nelson Senate website