After intense bargaining, Sen. Nelson supports health bill, giving measure decisive 60th vote

Nelson supports health bill after tough bargaining

WASHINGTON — A holdout no more, Sen. Ben Nelson agreed Saturday to provide the 60th and deciding vote for Senate passage of sweeping health care legislation, capping a year of struggle and a final burst of deadline bargaining.

Nelson, D-Neb., said he made his decision after winning fresh concessions to limit the availability of abortions in insurance sold in a newly created exchanges.

“I know this is hard for some of my colleagues to accept and I appreciate their right to disagree. But I would not have voted for this bill without these provisions,” he said at a news conference in the Capitol.

He also noted he had successfully fended off attempts to provide for a government-run insurance option to compete with private insurers.