If Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) votes for cloture on the Manager’s Amendment or on final passage of the Senate healthcare bill, he will violate his Taxpayer Protection Pledge – a written commitment Nelson made to Nebraskans and the American people.

“Senator Nelson promised the people of Nebraska that he would vote against any tax increases,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform. “The Democrat bosses claim Senator Nelson has promised to vote for a bill to give the government more control over health care.  That bill includes 18 different tax increases.”
 
When Sen. Nelson ran for the U.S. Senate, he made a written Pledge to his constituents to oppose any net income tax hikes.  He is bound by that Pledge for the duration of his career as a senator.  The Senate healthcare bill contains nearly $500 billion in new tax hikes over the next decade, including billions in income tax hikes. 
 
Sen. Nelson’s signed Taxpayer Protection Pledge may be viewed here.