Monday, November 18, 2013

A Slow Week for Senator Nelson, Except for the Rumor Mill

A Slow Week for Senator Nelson, Except for the Rumor Mill
           
Senator Nelson has been focused primarily this week, about issues more personal to him.  Among those issues was a bill involving expediting benefits for military veterans.  According to the article on fierceemr.com, veterans often have to wait 400 days or longer to begin receiving their benefits.  Senator Nelson is now advocating the The Servicemember's Electronic Health Records Act of 2013, which “would require the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs to implement fully interoperable electronic health record systems between the two agencies within one year of the bill's passage.”  As a veteran himself, this bill strikes near to his heart, as I’m sure colleagues of his from the armed forces were the ones who needed the benefits faster than they were provided.  Bill Nelson has been constantly in support of the troops and their benefits and this fits perfectly in like with his MO.

In addition to his bill supporting veterans’ benefits, Senator Nelson has been in the news recently for an even more personal issue.  With elections nearing, Nelson has been tabbed as a potential candidate for Florida’s gubernatorial race in the next round of national elections.  Having previously run before, this is not a new facet of his life, and he appears to be taking these rumors and conjectures in stride.  According to the article on fcir.org, Nelson has been fed up with the Congressional standstill and has maintained popularity within his home state, two strong cases for his move to the governor’s office.  However, his current office has come out to defuse these rumors and continues to declare that he is not interested in that position.  While his plans to run are not public, he has maintained his interest in the position and should he run, Nelson should be considered a favorite, along with potential opponent former Florida governor, Charlie Christ.

Sources: 
http://fcir.org/2013/11/15/bill-nelson-rick-scott-2014/
http://www.fierceemr.com/story/two-bills-aim-expedite-benefits-veterans/2013-11-12

No comments: