Sen. Bill Nelson: makes optimistic health care prediction at Florida Democratic Conference

The Florida democratic Chairman Karen Thurman introduced Sen. Bill Nelson. the crowd started chanting 'public option' when Nelson appeared at the podium and the chanting continued for several minutes.  Nelson predicted that a health care bill would be on the President's desk before Thanksgiving.

Nelson indicated there are two ways to operate a car. You can put it 'D for drive or 'R" for reverse, a reference to the Democratic and Republican Parties. The politics of 'my way or the highway' are over. The US no longer refuses to talk to its 'enemies' which is making the country safer. Nelson also indicated the US is the only country that can convene all of the parties in the Middle East. He indicated the US is also making some headway with Iran and North Korea.

Nelson indicated the GOP left the country with a $3 trillion deficit that he described as financial hypocrisy. He stated that real estate sales are improving which are the first signs of recovery. Hiring should pick up in the next 6 to 10 months.

He then started talking about health care and said a bill would be out of the Finance Committee next Tuesday. This bill will have to be merged with the Senate  Health Committee's bill. He expected no GOP Senators would support the final bill, but it will clear the Senate with 60 votes. He said the GOP position on health care is extremist with the possible exception of Olympia Snowe of Maine.

Nelson expected the final Senate bills to get 60 votes that will have to reconciled with he House vote. He expected the reconciled bill to also get 60 votes that will then go to President Obama's desk for signature.

Nelson really likes the president. He indicated that Sasha and Malia told their father that he won the Noble and also said:  by the way it also Bo's birthday. Bo is the family pet, a Portuguese Water dog. Nelson indicated the president is self-deprecating and that is wonderful to have a president "who is humble for a change."

The Senator explained that only 47 per cent of Floridians have health insurance. Sixteen per cent have Medicare and and 10 per cent have Medicaid. Twenty four per cent have no insurance and five per cent have the expensive individual insurance.

Nelson supports the 'individual mandate because the people who have no insurance end up in the emergency room and cost people who a $1400 hidden tax to pay for the emergency room visits of the uninsured. The individual mandate will require that everyone have insurance. Other experts have suggested the actual percentage of the insured will be about 94 per cent.

This is where the 'public option' is important. Both the public health option called the health insurance exchange and private insurance will compete for the individual  and uninsured business. Competition will make the price of this insurance competitive.

Nelson believes the new health insurance law will be a big plus when Alex Sink rungs for Florida governor in 2010. Nelson has know Alex Sink and Bill McBride for more than 25 years.

Nelson gave an articulate speech that was well received by the 1500 Democratic delegates.

Next up: Mayor Buddy Dyer of Orlando.


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