Centrist Democrat Ben Nelson backs move to debate healthcare on Senate floor

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One of three pivotal centrist Democratic senators announced this morning that he will support bringing the healthcare reform bill to the floor for full debate.

Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson said he will vote for the motion to proceed to debate on the Senate floor. The Senate began debate on the vote, called a cloture motion, this morning and is expected to vote on the procedural issue Saturday night.

“This weekend, I will vote for the motion to proceed to bring that debate onto the Senate floor,” Nelson said on the floor of the Senate. He noted that his vote was only to bring the bill forward.

“It is not for or against the new Senate healthcare bill released Wednesday,” he said. “It is only to begin debate and an opportunity to make improvements.”

Democrats need 60 votes to bring the bill to the floor. There are 58 Democrats and two independents who caucus with them. All 40 Republicans are expected to oppose the cloture effort.

Attention has focused on moderate Democrats Nelson, Mary Landrieu of Louisiana and Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas.

Landrieu has suggested she would vote to allow debate to begin, putting the spotlight on Lincoln, who’s facing a difficult reelection fight next year.

“We are not assuming a thing. We are working hard to bring all Democrats together for the 60 votes necessary to proceed to this historic debate,” said Dick Durbin of Illinois, the No. 2 Senate Democrat. “I’m hoping that we can muster our ranks.”

--Michael Muskal

Twitter.com/LATimesmuskal

Related: Senate begins healthcare debate.

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