Bill Nelson hails the passage of the health care bill -- and his "Gator Aid"

The Senate's version of the health care bill passed this morning with Florida's two senators casting divergent votes.

Bill Nelson voted in favor: "During these many months of debate over health-care reform, my goal has been to pass legislation to make coverage affordable and available to everyone. Regardless of where we stand on specifics, I think most can agree the system is broken and needs to be fixed. While the Senate bill I voted for isn't perfect, it has many good elements. It will prevent insurers from dropping the sick and stop them from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. It also will reduce the deficit. And it includes one of my amendments to protect 800,000 seniors in Medicare HMOs all over Florida. Congress still has to merge this bill with the House version. And I’ve told negotiators I want them to close the "donut hole" gap in Medicare prescription drug coverage."

Nelson's amendment to grandfather Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Florida has drawn criticism as one of the goodies ladled out by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid to get the legislation passed. Washington Post columnist Dana Milbank wrote that Capitol Hill critics have dubbed it "Gator Aid."

But Politicfact notes that Florida seniors wouldn't be the only ones covered.

Bill Nelson on his health care vote

Here's what Bill Nelson says about his vote to keep the health care bill moving: "In voting to move a health-care bill forward, my main goal was to help pass legislation that'll make health coverage more affordable and available for everybody. And one of my top priorities remains protecting seniors. Recently, I was able to pass an amendment to the bill that excluded some 800,000 policyholders all across Florida from cuts to Medicare Advantage.

"I believe that no matter where people stand on certain specifics of this complex issue of reforming health care, most all of us should agree the current system can be unfair and too costly.  It’s broken – and, it needs to be fixed. The legislation in the Senate certainly doesn’t have everything l want, like forcing drug companies to lower prices for prescriptions covered under Medicare or allowing seniors to import lower-cost drugs from Canada. But no piece of legislation does. And when it comes to health care reform, we can't afford to sit by and do nothing anymore. 

"I firmly believe this legislation will provide more affordable coverage for millions of uninsured Americans, prevent insurance companies from dropping folks who get sick and stop them from denying coverage for pre-existing conditions. The legislation will also help reduce the country’s deficit."

AARP Florida lauds Bill Nelson vote on health care bill, criticizes George LeMieux/Crist and Rubio pan the plan

Bill Nelson stuck with his fellow Democrats in voting to move ahead on health care legislation today, earning him plaudits from AARP Florida. The legislation, state director Lori Parham says, will help "protect guaranteed Medicare benefits and help millions of older Americans overcome the challenges of accessing affordable, quality health services."

The group, she says, is "disappointed that Sen. LeMieux voted to block action on this important bill."

Running against each other for the Republican nomination for the Senate seat now held by LeMieux -- Gov. Charlie Crist and former House Speaker Marco Rubio each panned the legislation.

Nelson asks Secretary of State Clinton to make detained contractor in Cuba a priority

Bill Nelson is asking Secretary of State Hillary Clinton to make the case of a U.S. contractor detained in Cuba a top priority.

The Florida Democrat says Cuban authorities have refused to allow anyone on behalf of the U.S. to visit the man to check on his well being. He says under Cuban law, a citizen or a foreign visitor can be arrested for nearly anything under the claim of dangerousness.

"It is an outrage that the Cuban regime has refused cooperation in this consular matter and that the U.S. citizen remains detained against his will," Nelson wrote in a letter to Clinton late last week. His office says he didn't release the letter until news reports surfaced on the man's detention.

Environment Florida warns new climate bill could mean Florida drilling; asks LeMieux to join Nelson in opposition

Environment Florida is panning the approach senators have taken in a new Senate climate control bill, saying it could lead to drilling off the Florida coast.

"Offshore drilling has no place in a climate bill," said Environment Florida's Adam Rivera. "Drilling means more emissions, and more emissions in a bill designed to reduce emissions is the very definition of a wrong approach.

The group notes that Sen. Bill Nelson has vowed to block any energy and climate bill that includes expanded drilling and urges Sen. George LeMieux to join him -- though LeMieux has said he's not necessarily opposed to drilling -- if Florida gets a cut of the proceeds.

Nelson hails passssage of ssssnake ban, reptile keepers do not

Bill Nelson’s bill to ban giant constrictors cleared a Senate panel today, setting it up for a full Senate vote. His bill would make it illegal to import 9 dangerous snakes, including Burmese pythons, anacondas and boa constrictors.

The green anaconda has been found in the Big Cypress National Preserve in South Florida. And a pet python killed a two-year-old Florida girl in her crib. Nelson’s bill originally targeted pythons because they are spreading in the Everglades. But he recently asked the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee to ban 9 constrictors that pose the greatest threat to native species. Nelson says a new federal report cited the risks posed by pythons, anacondas and boa constrictors and Interior Secretary Ken Salazar backs a broader ban.

The United States Association of Reptile Keepers, however, calls the report "questionable science" and ssays Nelson abandoned an "agreement in principle" to limit the ban.

 "It is a real shame that Senator Nelson has changed his position on this issue," said the group's president, d Andrew Wyatt. It estimates that if the bill passes, 4 million boas and pythons in captivity "would be rendered valueless overnight with no provisions for disposition or compensation."

But Nelson says even more needs to be done to regulate foreign plants and animals in the U.S.: "As stewards of our country’s vast public lands and natural resources we have to deal with the threats posed by invasive species."

Rep. Kendrick Meek has filed a snake bill similar to Nelson’s in the House.

Man who threw punch during Nelson event to attend anger classes

A Miami-Dade man who punched a demonstrator at a healthcare rally has reached a plea deal with prosecutors and will take anger management courses and serve 50 hours of community service.

Raul Anasagasti, 56, is scheduled to appear in Miami-Dade Circuit Court Thursday.

Back in September, Anasagasti punched a 65-year-old man in the face after a heated exchange. Police said Luis Perrero was attending the rally outside the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, headlined by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., when Anasagasti, driving by in his green pickup, stopped and began arguing with the crowd.

More here.

LeMieux's fundaiser: "To support my Republican colleagues"

George LeMieux said he had about 50 attendees -- and several who couldn't attend but sent checks -- to a reception and dinner Tuesday night to benefit his new political action committee, Protect America's Future. 

The Gov. Charlie Crist appointee brushed off speculation he'll use the committee for a future political bid when he leaves the Senate after next November's election.

"I'm trying to support my Republican colleagues to get elected in the Senate," LeMieux said. "There are only 40 of us and if there was one more we wouldn't have this awful health care bill. We'd be able to have real compromise and a bipartisan effort."

Republicans, he said, "are the fire wall between the Democrats in Congress and the protection of our freedoms."

Florida Dems assailed the fundraiser, saying they had "demanded" that LeMieux pledge not to raise money for Crist so "as to not look like a Blagojevich-esq, quid-pro-quo deal was made.

"Unfortunately, Sen. LeMieux’s fundraiser today proved that he cares more about Crist’s political ambition than the people he took an oath to represent,” said Florida Democratic Party spokesman Eric Jotkoff. “Because Floridians are sick of Crist and LeMieux's corrupt cronyism, both of them will be sent into retirement come 2010.”

Florida senators split votes on abortion provision

Not surprisingly, Florida's two senators split their votes on an amendment to restrict abortion coverage. Democrat Bill Nelson voted to set aside the provision, while Republican George LeMieux voted to take it up.

The measure, which cleared the House would have put strict limits on federal abortion funding in the Democrats' health care bill.

John McCain takes on Bill Nelson

A fiery John McCain took to the Senate floor to offer a health care amendment -- and tweaked  Bill Nelson in the process. The Arizona Republican said his amendment would send the Senate health care bill back to committee to grandfather in all enrollees in the Medicare Advantage programs -- Nelson and a number of Democrats successfully negotiated grandfather clauses for seniors in their states in exchange for supporting the bill.

"I want the same protections extended to all seniors," McCain said. "No special deals for any constituents that is related to the state in which they reside or the influence of their elected representatives."

Quoting Nelson as saying he was trying to grandfather in seniors "so they don't lose the benefits they have," McCain said, "Well, I'm trying to carry out Senator Nelson's ambition."

And ouch -- McCain noted that Nelson's deal with Senate leaders doesn't cover every Floridian on Medicare Advantage, charging that Nelson "was willing to leave 150,000 beneficiaries subject to Medicare Advantage cuts."

McCain's amendment is unlikely to fly. Democrats and the White House have targeted Medicare Advantage programs as a source of savings, as the premiums paid by the government are generally about 14 percent more than traditional plans.