A state Republican Party leader accused Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska, one of those wavering moderate Democrats, of trying to have it both ways by talking conservative back home and voting with liberals in Washington.
Nelson has said he won’t vote for a final bill unless it takes into account his concerns about limits on abortion funding, as well as his opposition to a new government-run insurance plan.
Another moderate Democrat, Senator Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas, said yesterday she also could not support “a government-run, government-funded’’ public plan. With hundreds of thousands of uninsured people in her state eligible for existing government programs such as Medicaid, she said getting them signed up should be the first priority.
Congressional Democrats are trying to resolve differences within their rank and file over the public option, as well as abortion and taxes. Appearing on NBC’s “Today’’ show, Schumer said, “We all know we have to give a little.’’
Obama says economy buoyed by ‘core strengths’
WASHINGTON - President Obama said yesterday the nation’s economy is in good shape for the long term thanks to “core strengths’’ such as its universities, its innovation, and a dynamic workforce.
But he also noted again how 2009 has been a sobering year for millions of newly unemployed people.
“We cannot sit back and be satisfied given the extraordinarily high unemployment levels that we’ve seen,’’ Obama said in wrapping up a pre-Thanksgiving session with his Cabinet as other senior aides packed the meeting room. “We have only taken the first step in curing our economy.’’
The unemployment rate stands at a 26-year high of 10.2 percent, overshadowing more upbeat indicators such as a return in growth of the overall economy.
