Ben Nelson
Former senator for Nebraska · Democrat; served until January 3, 2013
View:InteractiveSummary Compare with another member · All members from Nebraska
Seats held: Senator for NE, 2001–2013.
Nebraska has about 2 million residents, represented by two senators.
Votes compared with what constituents said
- Cooperative Election Study: voted with 14 of 22 surveyed votes where Nebraska's estimated majority was clear.
| Survey question | Vote | How they voted | What constituents said | Compared |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.9% support, likely 53.8–64.1%) | With the majority |
| Middle Class Tax Cut Act (extend the Bush-era income tax cuts for incomes under $250,000) | July 25, 2012 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.3% support, likely 41.8–52.7%) | Too close to call |
| Ryan budget plan (House budget resolution for 2013) | May 16, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most oppose (26.6% support, likely 21.8–31.4%) | With the majority |
| Approve the Keystone XL pipeline | March 8, 2012 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (69.9% support, likely 64.9–74.9%) | Against the majority |
| Let employers and insurers refuse to cover birth control for religious or moral reasons (Blunt amendment) | March 1, 2012 · official record | Nay (for the proposal) | Most oppose (41.8% support, likely 36.8–46.8%) | Against the majority |
| U.S.-Korea Free Trade Agreement | October 12, 2011 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (58.8% support, likely 53.8–63.9%) | With the majority |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (66.8% support, likely 59.5–74.1%) | With the majority |
| End "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" (let gay people serve openly in the military) | December 18, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (69.5% support, likely 64.5–74.5%) | With the majority |
| Confirm Elena Kagan to the Supreme Court | August 5, 2010 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Too close to call (46.9% support, likely 39.4–54.3%) | Too close to call |
| Financial reform (Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act) | July 15, 2010 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (71.2% support, likely 64.1–78.3%) | With the majority |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (52.4% support, likely 44.9–60%) | Too close to call |
| Affordable Care Act of 2010 | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (51.4% support, likely 46–56.9%) | Too close to call |
| Health care reform (Affordable Care Act) | December 24, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (48.2% support, likely 40.3–56.2%) | Too close to call |
| Confirm Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court | August 6, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.9% support, likely 40.7–55%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (45.5% support, likely 38.4–52.6%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (56.7% support, likely 49.3–64.2%) | Too close to call |
| American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (the 2009 stimulus) | February 13, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (47.4% support, likely 40–54.9%) | Too close to call |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.1% support, likely 67.2–80.9%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (74.4% support, likely 65.9–82.8%) | With the majority |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) | January 29, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (70.6% support, likely 63.3–77.9%) | With the majority |
| Lilly Ledbetter Fair Pay Act (more time to sue over pay discrimination) | January 22, 2009 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (59.7% support, likely 52.5–66.9%) | With the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (32.2% support, likely 23.4–41.1%) | Against the majority |
| The 2008 bank bailout (Troubled Asset Relief Program) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (27.4% support, likely 18.1–36.7%) | Against the majority |
| The $700 billion bank bailout (Emergency Economic Stabilization Act) | October 1, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most oppose (25% support, likely 19.3–30.8%) | Against the majority |
| Federal help for homeowners facing foreclosure (Housing and Economic Recovery Act) | July 26, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (50.3% support, likely 43.7–56.8%) | Too close to call |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas terrorist suspects without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (75.4% support, likely 68.5–82.3%) | With the majority |
| Allow eavesdropping on overseas communications without a court order (FISA Amendments Act) | July 9, 2008 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (64.3% support, likely 58.2–70.3%) | With the majority |
| Extend NAFTA-style free trade to Peru (U.S.-Peru Trade Promotion Agreement) | December 4, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Too close to call (49% support, likely 42.3–55.6%) | Related bill, not counted |
| Expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP) | September 27, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (68.1% support, likely 62.2–74%) | With the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (67.6% support, likely 60.4–74.9%) | Against the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (64.3% support, likely 56.9–71.6%) | Against the majority |
| Fund research using embryonic stem cells (Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act) | April 11, 2007 · official record | Nay (against the proposal) | Most support (63.6% support, likely 57.3–69.9%) | Against the majority |
| Raise the federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour (Fair Minimum Wage Act) | February 1, 2007 · official record | Yea (for the proposal) | Most support (77.2% support, likely 71.8–82.6%) | With the majority |
Attendance
In the 112th Congress, Ben Nelson missed 4 of 486 Senate votes (0.8%). On votes where most of their party voted one way, they voted with their party 85.7% of the time.