Sen Nelson Speaks to Forum Club – Summary

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Several RCPB members had the opportunity to hear from Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) when he spoke to the Forum Club on February 18, lamenting that his friend, Senator Evan Bayh (D-IN), felt that things in Washington were so broken that he would not run for re-election.

Although Senator Nelson agrees many things are not working, he vows to continue his fight.
Senator Nelson was asked to address the economy and finances of the country. He was not afraid to mention the foot-dragging of the Secretary of the Treasury and the Obama Administration.

He offered some thoughts:
. Credit at the banks should be unlocked for small business
. Money should be available for community banks
. TARP money should be used to get to people whose mortgages are under water.
. Look at Wall Street, SEC problems, excess bonuses
. Offer Tax deductions for banks who will agree to do something about irresponsible risk and re-organize their bonus structures.
. The stimulus was meant for short term; no more stimulus; no more bailout of state governments by stimulus money.
. Small and struggling businesses are the backbone of our country and need help
. Continue the Bush tax cuts –but pay for them by reforming tax laws to close corporate loopholes and tax companies that are sending jobs overseas.
. Look at new technologies such as clean energy and high speed rail (changing our transportation methods)—will provide thousands of jobs.

The students from Spanish River High School asked what to do about the high cost of education.
Answer: Blister your state legislators for whacking the state’s education budget.

The students from the medical program at Lake Worth High School asked how the public option in the health bill will affect illegals.
Answer: Senator Nelson asked them to rephrase their question to the topic of either public option or illegals. They opted for public option. Senator Nelson voted for the bill as it came out of committee but agrees now he cannot vote for a bill that has morphed. The original intent was to have a nationwide program for a small group who do not have insurance and generally use the emergency rooms which means that TAXPAYERS handle the burden. There are not 60 votes to pass it. Asking the public if they support “the bill”, you get one answer; but asking them if they support the different components, the answers are different.

Question: What is going to happen to advancing the SS age upward?
Answer: He and 12 other Dems offered a Blue ribbon panel (similar to the one in 1983 that got the Social Security Fund out of trouble with an up/down vote in Congress.) This new bill on SS did not pass as 7 of the original sponsors did not vote for it. Nelson says the President may put a panel in by executive order but it won’t have legislative teeth.

Question: Re shutting down of NASA Kennedy project. , what are you doing to help keep these NASA employees in FL?
Answer: Problem: Obama is letting OMB run the program. The president should set the goals and have the experts run with it. NASA has been starved for a # of years. He is hoping the CONGRESS will fix this situation. In the meantime, he is getting every R&D company to come to FL to keep the launch force.

Question: With 80% of the public against the Supreme Court decision about corporations helping candidates, will congress introduce legislation to offset this decision?
Answer: I HOPE SO.

Question: How do you balance what you do in regard to your constituents? The country? And your morals?
Answer: Tough question. He hopes FL will amend its constitution so judicial panel will look at the redistricting issue.

Question: Are you planning on running? And have you heard that George Le Mieux is going to run for your seat when you retire?  Yes, he is running and he hopes to have the same great bi-partisan relationship with George that he had with Mel Martinez.