62% of Nebraskans disapprove of Nelson’s deal.
Dec 30th, 2009 by Tennessee Walker
It appears there are a number of really good people in the State of Nebraska. The good people of Nebraska don’t care for the “my vote is for sale to the highest bidder,” Democrat Senator Ben Nelson.
The latest Rasmussen poll of Nebraska voters show that 62% disapprove of the vote that Nelson made in favor of Harry Reid’s version of Obama Care. The poll also shows that Nelson trails his potential 2012 rival by 30%.
It’s good to see that the voters of Nebraska recognize that voting for terrible legislation can’t be justified by a payoff to that state’s voters.
Nelson’s ‘deal’ has raised the ire of the nation. The deal was supposed to innoculate Nelson from the consequences of his vote for legislation that was very unpopular among that state’s voters. Now it appears it has simply raised his profile THE Senator whose vote is for sale.
This response by the citizens of Nebraska stands on its head the conventional political wisdom that voters want representatives that “bring home the bacon”.
While I still think that constituent service has value to voters, it appears that key issues such as Obama Care transcend this formula. It will be interesting to see how the other bought off Democrat Senators do in this environment.
Here is a good laugh on the subject.
http://delawarerepublican.wordpress.com/2009/12/30/sad-but-true/
Mike Protack
I think Nelson’s term runs through the ’12 elections, at which point he’ll probably retire. Hence, he doesn’t care what Nebraskans want.
“I think Nelson’s term runs through the ‘12 elections, at which point he’ll probably retire. Hence, he doesn’t care what Nebraskans want.”
Based on the polling Rick, the people of Nebraska will be willing to retire him if he doesn’t do it himself.
Let’s not forget that Delaware’s senators didn’t bother to cut deals in exchange for their ‘Yea’ votes; they have maintained fairly low profiles during the health care debate, but that doesn’t excuse them for voting against our best interests.
Nelson had no plans to retire. That may have changed. These deals used to help back home. What the Democrats do not realize is that you can’t make a deal which brings limited benefit in exchange for something that impacts the lives of real people. Bills like this have to be done based upon merit.
Oh I wouldn’t say Delaware gets “nothing” out of the healthcare deal….we’ve got more Medicare/Medicaid funding coming…Hospitals and clinics will be built/renovated and remember the U of D just bought the Chrysler plant so it could demolish the decades of hisotry (and a perfectly good manufacturing site) to put up a medical research lab/Jefferson hospital site/school of medicine….Carper’s deal may just be a little more under the table and with out media sources…that means you won’t know about it until 2 decades after it happens.
FROM JOHN ATKINS (D)–41ST DISTRICT REP–forwarded to the Coastal Network for distribution:
Proposed Legislation for Sexual Offenders
Background
· Recently, there has been a lot in the news about child sex offenders and their victims.
o Dr. Earl Bradley at BayBees in Lewes may have molested up to 100 children in a 10 year period.
o Dover sex offender charged with molesting a 7 year old.
o Sarah Foxwell’s body was found Christmas Day not far from the Delaware border.
· These stories are very tragic, and as a State Representative, I want to ensure that all children in Delaware are safe from sex offenders.
· Ultimately, I would like Delaware to be the toughest state in the nation on high-risk, repeat sex offenders.
· I am currently drafting several pieces of legislation that will affect high-risk, repeat sex offenders and will make Delaware a safer place for all of us.
· Proposed Legislation
· All high-risk, repeat sex offenders should receive truth in sentencing when serving time for a sexual offense.
o If a sexual offender is giving 20 years for molesting a child, that person should serve 20 years of jail time, not 8 or 9.
o Any sexual offender who is convicted of a second sexual offense will be served a mandatory life sentence.
o We need zero-tolerance sentencing for child molesters and other sex offenders.
· For all high-risk, repeat sex offenders, their driver’s license (or state ID) will be stamped with the words “sex offender.”
o This tool will allow law enforcement officers to better protect the public from repeat offenders.
o For example, a police officer in a routine traffic stop will remember a license stamped with “sex offender” and that memory may come in handy if a child is hurt or kidnapped from the area.
o Also, in places with large crowds like the state fair or a busy park, law enforcement officers do not have access to a computer. A stamped driver’s license will alert the officer to the presence of a high-risk, repeat sex offender.
· For all high-risk, repeat sex offenders, a special license plate to be designed by the Department of Motor Vehicle that must be registered and displayed on the offender’s vehicle.
o For too long child sex predators have been stalking our children, it’s now time we know where they are.
o An easy identifiable license plate will not only be a red flag for parents, but we can teach young children to avoid these vehicles and drivers at all cost.
o Wisconsin, Ohio, and Alabama have considered legislation requiring sexual offenders to have special license plates on their car denoting their sexual offender status.
· All high-risk, repeat sex offenders must register all Internet domain and chat room names with the authorities.
o Law enforcement officers can then monitor those domain and chat room names to ensure that the sex offender is not committing another crime through the Internet.
o Failure to register domain and chat room names would result in [fine? imprisonment?]
· Before leaving prison, all male, high-risk, repeat sex offenders that are older than 21 and have targeted a child younger than 12 would be chemically castrated.
o Castration may prevent these sex offenders from harming more children.
o For the liberal groups that will claim that this is cruel and unusual punishment; I say so is the rape and victimization of our young children. It is my job to see that children have a safe environment.
o Ten states have enacted or are considering enacting similar legislation. Louisiana enacted this legislation in June of 2008 and Europe is also debating this concept.
· It will be an additional penalty for a sexual offender to provide a cell phone to his or hers victim without the victim’s parental consent.
o Sexual offenders that target pre-teen and teenage girls often hook their victim by giving the girl a cell phone.
o There is no reason why a child should have a cell phone given to them by a non-family member that the child’s parents know nothing about.
Miscellaneous
· Sexual offenders, especially those involved in child molestation, often have a high recidivism rate, and are never rehabilitated. Their sex crimes often escalate to include murder.
· Sex offenders often target children under 2 years of age because they can’t talk very well, making it less likely for the offender to be caught.
· Lawmakers must stand up for kids who are victims of sexual offences because we have the power to protect them.
Representative John C. Atkins
41st District – Delaware House of Representatives