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With a reputation for problem solving and a voting record to support his common sense approach to issues, Nebraska's Sen. Ben Nelson has carved for himself a bipartisan role in a bitterly partisan Washington environment. In a closely-divided Senate, Nelson's ability to cross party lines gives him the ability to affect major legislation for a first-term senator.
As a former two-term governor, Nelson has fought against unfunded and underfunded federal mandates and is a firm believer in states' rights. He has supported full funding for education for children with disabilities. Nelson has fought to prevent federal tax policy from having a negative impact on state budgets.
As the 2005 vice chairman of the Centrist Coalition, Nelson works closely with other members of the coalition on a variety of issues. He was part of a core group in 2001 that cobbled together a coalition that supported $1.35 trillion in tax cuts.
Nelson considers his role as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee to be one of pushing reform and providing support to armed services and military personnel. He has had great success working to improve benefits from health care to education to combat pay for America's servicemen and women.
As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee from 2001 through 2004 he pushed to preserve access to health care for Nebraska veterans and to expand Veterans Administration's use of clinics to provide quality care for Nebraska veterans.
In 2005, Nelson joined the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee. His agenda on the Commerce Committee includes continuing to preserve the rural way of life through improved transportation, health care, education and infrastructure.
In 1990, Nelson entered the realm of Nebraska politics by running for governor and won the Democratic primary by only 42 votes. He...