Ben Nelson is the proverbial stick in the mud on unemployment benefits. He says he supports them but wants them to be paid for.
OK, Sen. Nelson.
How about we pay for them by cutting farm subsidies?
First of all, let's hear from Nelson. Here's his press release from earlier this week, explaining why he opposes the unemployment benefits and relief:
June 29, 2010 – Today, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson issued this statement on the need for additional unemployment benefits, and said that they should be paid for and not add to the high federal deficit and national debt:
"Recently, Nebraska state officials estimated that our unemployment had improved slightly and was down to 4.9 percent. I am very sympathetic to the many Nebraskans who remain out of work and recognize that the federal government should extend unemployment benefits to help them.
"Before the vote last week on the tax extenders bill, which provided unemployment benefits, I informed Senate leadership that I was willing to vote for new spending as long as it is paid for. I believe this can be done and that the votes are there to pass it.
"The bill has been revised several times already and each time the deficit spending was less. Tough choices are possible and necessary to not add to the deficit.
"In early 2009, we passed the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act with emergency spending to address an emergency, indeed a crisis. Hundreds of thousands of Americans were losing their jobs each month. We were in the worst recession since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
"Some argue it wasn’t necessary, but the fact is today the economy is recovering and the Recovery Act clearly contributed to the welcome economic improvement.
"Some also say we need more emergency spending now to keep the recovery going. But in my view it could jeopardize the recovery and would add to our already enormous deficit, likely to be around $1.4 trillion for the second year in a row.
"I’d note that on April 13, 2010 the Nebraska Legislature adopted LR538, a resolution noting that the national debt has continued to grow, generating concern from economists, legislators and taxpayers across the country and that stated, ‘The Legislature remains committed to seeking a federal balanced budget.’
"Further, $1 billion of the $1.5 billion Nebraska is to receive from the Recovery Act hasn’t yet been spent, according to the state’s recovery website. That includes about $250 million in state fiscal stabilization funds that will be spent in fiscal year 2011.
"It’s important to note that the state of Nebraska delayed using Recovery Act funds for unemployment benefits for a year, and then only after the Legislature took the initiative to act on it.
"So, Congress should provide additional unemployment benefits but not as a bailout to the states that worsens the deficit and passes the bills onto our children."
Nebraska is playing a little game of "I've got mine, screw you." And that's fine. That's what Senators are supposed to do - bring in benefits for their state and help promote the interests of their state in Congress.
But would Nelson be willing to let go of some sacred cows of Congressional kickbacks?
President Obama promised to limit subsidies to agribusiness and Politifact.com gives him a grade of "Stalled" on the subject. Obama's original promise was this:
Obama will implement a $250,000 [farm commodity] payment limitation so that we help family farmers, not large corporate agribusiness. Obama will close the loopholes that allow megafarms to get around the limits by subdividing their operations into multiple paper corporations.
He proposed these changes already, but the progress on the proposal was stalled in a conflict with Chuck Grassley and other (mostly Republican) Senators.
So, how about it, Ben?
Are you willing to sacrifice some sacred cows?
I know Archer Daniels Midland is a top campaign contributor.
But will you stand up to them like Obama has stood up to BP?
Update: Nelson just announced he's running for re-election. Oh, joy!