Vander Plaats: Branstad backing Democrat Nelson led to Senate health bill « Des Moines Register Staff Blogs | The Des Moines Register
Republican candidate for governor Bob Vander Plaats said today former Gov. Terry Branstad’s support of a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate helped pave the way for health care legislation that advanced in Congress Saturday.
Vander Plaats faulted Branstad, a Republican also running for governor, for endorsing and helping raise money for Nebraska Democrat Ben Nelson’s 2000 Senate campaign. Nelson, a former governor, served around the same time as Branstad, who was Iowa governor from 1983 to 1999.
Nelson, who was elected, was among three moderate Democrats who agreed to vote Saturday for a procedural measure that would block minority Republicans from holding a filibuster to kill the health care bill.
“He’s the one that allowed this to go forward,” Vander Plaats said of Nelson in an interview. “Terry Branstad needs to bear some of the weight of that responsibility. He not only went across the river and endorsed his Democratic ally Ben Nelson, but also contributed money to him.”
Branstad has said Nelson is a longtime friend and hunting partner and that the support was out of personal loyalty.
Branstad’s campaign declined to comment on the Nelson endorsement, but said the former governor opposes the Senate health care bill.
