A Busy Week in the Senate, but was Nelson Busy?

A Busy Week in the Senate, but was Nelson Busy?

           

This week, the Senate and Democratic Senator Bill Nelson from Florida had a very important vote to participate in.  A governmental shutdown was fast approaching, and the House of Representatives had sent a very decidedly pro-Republican bill to the Senate to be ratified.  This bill was designed to fund the government (avoid the shutdown) and to defund Obamacare (a cause championed by many democrats nationally) at the same time.  It was a ploy by the Republicans, however it was not to be. 

Democrats, including Senator Nelson, shot down this bill and sent it back to the House in a vote this past Friday.  Senator Nelson knew from before the time of the vote that it would be a fight between the two parties and that both sides were going to have to get ready. "’In the course of the next few weeks, it's going to be a white knuckle time,’ said Sen. Bill Nelson (D-FL).”  This simple quote perfectly sums up the feelings and the tension created between the two parties, with men like Senator Nelson on one side, a strong unmoving force, and Senator Ted Cruz on the other.

Besides the appropriations vote and the tension thus created, Senator Nelson has introduced legislation to help consumers correct errors on credit reports along with Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-MN) and Mark Begich (D-AK).  This bill is designed to “help consumers correct errors on their credit reports.”  The push for this piece of legislation is designed to help the over 25% of consumers whose credit reports contain major errors.  According to the article on hometownsource.com, “this legislation ensures that the requirements of the FCRA are being met by requiring that credit agencies forward actual copies of documents submitted by consumers to data furnishers.” 

On the home front, Senator Nelson is attempting to help his home constituents by postponing increases in flood insurance rates, a large problem in the state of Florida, which is at sea level.  He is trying to save money for his populace at home by ridding or at least postponing the impact of such a piece of legislation.  In addition, there had previously been rumors (and none that had been fully denied by the Senator’s office) that following this term, he would try to run for governor of Florida, however, this week it has appeared even more likely that he will not enter the gubernatorial race and has in fact begun to fall from that conversation as other challengers to Governor Rick Scott have emerged.

Sources: 

http://www.ajc.com/weblogs/jamie-dupree/2013/sep/23/some-talk-avoiding-government-shutdown/

http://hometownsource.com/2013/09/24/klobuchar-begich-nelson-introduce-legislation-help-consumers-correct-errors-credit-reports/

http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=329332

http://www.sunshinestatenews.com/story/bill-nelson-staying-out-helps-rick-scott-charlie-crist-and-nan-rich