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| − | {{congresspedia}}
| + | #REDIRECT[[Ben Nelson]]{{r for alternate name}} |
| − | {{Senator header|state=Nebraska}}
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| − | [[Image:bennelson.jpg|thumb|Ben Nelson currently serves as the Jr. Senator for Nebraska]]
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| − | '''Earl Benjamin Nelson''' a [[United States Democratic Party|Democrat]], is currently the junior [[U.S. Senate|Senator]] from Nebraska. He was first elected in 2000. ([http://nationalatlas.gov/printable/images/preview/congdist/pagecgd109_ne2.gif map])
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| − | ==Record and controversies==
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| − | {{Congresspedia voting record}}
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| − | ===Iraq War===
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| − | Nelson voted for the [[Authorization for Use of Military Force Against Iraq]] in Oct. 2002.
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| − | In March 2007, it was revealed that Sens. Nelson and John Warner (R-Va.) had been discussing the possibility of breaking ranks and coming up with a compromise piece of legislation regarding the President's plan for a troop "surge" in Iraq and the over $120 billion Iraq War spending bill.
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| − | {{Main|Congressional actions regarding President Bush’s 2007 proposed troop “surge” in Iraq}}
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| − | On March 15, Nelson was one of two Democratic Senators who voted against a joint resolution to revise U.S. policy in Iraq. The measure failed 48-50.
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| − | {{Main|U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Health, and Iraq Accountability Act, 2007 (H.R.1591)}}
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| − | {{Iraq War Senate record}}
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| − | ===Environmental record===
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| − | ''For more information on environmental legislation, see the [[Portal:Energy and Environment Policy (U.S.)|Energy and Environment Policy Portal]]''
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| − | ===Gang of 14===
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| − | On May 23, 2005, Nelson was one of fourteen Senators to forge a compromise on the Democrats' use of the judicial [[filibuster]], thus blocking the Republican leadership's attempt to implement the so-called "[[nuclear option]]". Under the agreement, the Democrats would retain the power to filibuster one of [[George W. Bush|President Bush]]'s judicial nominees only in an "extraordinary circumstance", and the three most conservative Bush appellate court nominees ([[Janice Rogers Brown]], [[Priscilla Owen]] and [[William H. Pryor, Jr.]]) would receive a vote by the full Senate. Subsequently, he was the only Democratic senator to vote in favor of Brown; he was later the first Democratic senator to support [[Samuel Alito]]'s confirmation to the Supreme Court.
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| − | ===Vote against stem cell bill===
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| − | Nelson was one of two Democrats in the Senate who voted against the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2007 which would have lifted restrictions on stem cell research. It passed the Senate in a vote of 63-34. It was later vetoed by President [[George W. Bush]]. The other Senator was [[Bob Casey]] (D- PA).<ref>Jeffrey Young. [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-passes-stem-cell-research-bill-2007-04-11.html "Senate passes stem cell research bill,"] ''The Hill.'' April 11, 2007.</ref>
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| − | {{main|U.S. federal stem cell legislation#Senate}}
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| − | ===Vote to confirm Michael Mukasey as Attorney General===
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| − | Nelson was one of six Democrats to vote in favor of confirming Michael Mukasey as Attorney General. The controversial vote's final tally was 53-40 in favor of confirmation. <ref>Manu Raju. [http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/senate-approves-mukasey-nomination-2007-11-09.html "Senate Approves Mukasey Nomination,"] ''The Hill.'' November 9, 2007.</ref>
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| − | ==Bio==
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| − | ===Background===
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| − | Nelson was born May 17, 1941 in McCook, Nebraska. Nelson earned a BA (1963), Master's degree (1965), and Juris JD (1970) from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. He was an attorney and insurance executive before being elected governor as a in 1990, and was easily reelected in 1994. During his first race for governor, he ran against [[w:Kay A. Orr|Kay A. Orr]].
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| − | Nelson left the governor's office in 1999 after two terms. Instead he ran for a seat in the [[U.S. Senate]] in 1996 but was defeated by Republican [[Chuck Hagel]]. He ran again in 2000 after incumbent [[Bob Kerrey]], announced his retirement. Nelson won with 51% of the vote.
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| − | ===Senate Career===
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| − | Nelson is among the leading conservative Democrats in the Senate. Nebraska has traditionally been a conservative state and Nelson's relatively conservative record has resulted in high approval ratings.
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| − | He voted twice, with three other Democrats, to end Senate debate over President Bush's United Nations Ambassador nominee [[John Bolton]]. He was one of only two Democratic senators to vote against the Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002. Nelson supports eliminating the estate tax and voted in favor of both the tax cuts of 2001 and 2003. He has voted with Republicans on matters of bankruptcy reform, environmental protection, lawsuit reform, and trade. He opposes most gun control laws and supports expanding use of the federal death penalty. He was one of only three Democratic senators to vote to invoke cloture on the proposed [[Federal Marriage Amendment]]. Nelson has also voted against increasing funds for [[w:Head Start|Head Start]] and energy assistance for people with low incomes. Votes such as these have often placed Nelson, perceived by most political observers as a moderate conservative, at odds with the leadership of his party. Democratic Party Senate Minority Leader [[Harry Reid]] has said that Nelson is probably the most conservative Democrat in the entire Senate caucus
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| − | [http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00129]
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| − | [http://www.senate.gov/legislative/LIS/roll_call_lists/roll_call_vote_cfm.cfm?congress=109&session=1&vote=00142].
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| − | Nelson is one of several Democrats in the Senate with a pro-life voting record. Nelson is a member of the [[Democrats for Life of America]], a national organization for pro-life members of the Democratic party that advocates a 95% reduction in the number of abortions performed over the next 10 years. Nelson has also opposed legislation put forth by Senator [[Hillary Rodham Clinton]] that aimed to reduce the number of abortions by making sex education and contraceptives more available, putting Nelson in the same column as many conservative Republicans.
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| − | ====2006 elections====
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| − | In 2006, the [[Republican Party|Republicans]] nominated [[Pete Ricketts]] to face Nelson in his November 2006 bid for reelection. (See [[U.S. congressional elections in 2006]]) [http://opensecrets.org/states/election.asp?State=NE&year=2006] Nelson retained his seat.
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| − | ==Money in politics==
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| − | {{Congresspedia money in politics header}}
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| − | <crpcontribdata>cid=N00005329&cycle=2006</crpcontribdata>
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| − | {{congresspedia money|cid=N00005329}}
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| − | {{Congresspedia revolving door info|crpname=Nelson%2C+Ben}}
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| − | {{Congresspedia private travel info|cid=N00005329}}
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| − | {{Congresspedia PFD info|cid=N00005329}}
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| − | ==Committees and Affiliations==
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| − | ===Committees===
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Energy, Science and Technology
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| − | **Subcommittee on Domestic & Foreign Marketing, Inspection, & Plant & Animal Health
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| − | **Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization, Conservation, Forestry and Credit
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Appropriations]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, and Related Agencies
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| − | **Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
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| − | **Subcommittee on Homeland Security
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| − | **Subcommittee on Interior and Related Agencies
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| − | **Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
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| − | **Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Armed Services]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
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| − | **Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
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| − | **Subcommittee on Personnel - Chairman
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Rules and Administration]]
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| − | ====Committee assignments in the 109th Congress (2005-2006)====
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Forestry Conservation and Rural Revitalization
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| − | **Subcommittee on Marketing Inspection and Production Promotion
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| − | **Subcommittee on Research Nutrition and General Legislation
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Armed Services]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Personnel - Ranking Minority Member
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| − | **Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support
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| − | **Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
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| − | **Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation]]
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| − | **Subcommittee on Aviation
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| − | **Subcommittee on Disaster Prevention and Prediction - Ranking Minority Member
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| − | **Subcommittee on Science and Space
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| − | **Subcommittee on Trade Tourism and Economic Development
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| − | **Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine
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| − | *[[Senate Committee on Rules and Administration]]
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| − | ==More Background Data==
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| − | {{congresspedia footer |
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| − | cid=N00005329|
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| − | district=NEJR
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| − | *[http://www.vis.org/candlist/Candidates.aspx?pid=258 2006 Nebraska Senate Candidate List from VIS]
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| − | {{wikipedia}}
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| − | ==Contact==
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| − | '''DC Office:'''<br>
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| − | 720 Hart Senate Office Building<br>
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| − | Washington, D.C. 20510-2705<br>
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| − | Phone: 202-224-6551<br>
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| − | Fax: 202-228-0012<br>
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| − | [http://bennelson.senate.gov/contact/email.cfm Web Email]<br>
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| − | [http://bennelson.senate.gov/ Website]<br>
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| − | '''District Office- Lincoln:'''<br>
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| − | 287 Denny Federal Building<br>
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| − | 100 Centennial Mall North<br>
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| − | Lincoln, NE 68508 <br>
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| − | Phone: 402-441-4600<br>
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| − | Fax: 402-476-8753<br>
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| − | '''District Office- Omaha:'''<br>
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| − | 7602 Pacific Street, Suite 205<br>
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| − | Omaha, NE 68114 <br>
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| − | Phone: 402-391-3411<br>
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| − | Fax: 402-391-4725<br>
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| − | ==Articles and resources==
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| − | ===Resources===
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| − | <div id="ComedyCentral">
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| − | *[http://www.comedycentral.com/sitewide/media_player/play.jhtml?itemId=12473 Interview with Jon Stewart], ''The Daily Show with Jon Stewart'', February 8, 2005. ([[Daily Show|Other Daily Show interviews with members of Congress.]])
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| − | *[http://bennelson.senate.gov/ Official website]
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| − | *[http://bioguide.congress.gov/scripts/biodisplay.pl?index=N000180 Biographical Dictionary of the United States Congress]
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| − | *[http://www.democratsforlife.org/index.html Democrats for Life of America]
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| − | *[http://opensecrets.org/races/index.asp Open Secrets] - 2006 congressional races database
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| − | *[http://whereistand.com/BenNelson/wizard See how you compare to Ben Nelson]
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| − | ===Related SourceWatch articles===
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| − | *[[Vets for Freedom]]
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| − | ===Articles===
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| − | *[http://www.vetsforfreedom.org/multimedia/details.aspx?ID=44 "Please Do Not Surrender Sen. Nelson,"] [[Vets for Freedom]], August 8, 2007.
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| − | *Patrick O'Connor, [http://www.politico.com/blogs/thecrypt/0807/Veterans_group_launches_ads_to_counter_antiwar_organizers.html "Veterans group launches ads to counter anti-war organizers,"] ''The Crypt'' Blog/''The Politico'', August 9, 2007.
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| − | *Eric Pfeiffer, [http://wpherald.com/articles/5630/1/Veterans-campaign-to-continue-Iraq-surge/Polls-show-increased-public-support-for-surge.html "Veterans campaign to continue Iraq surge,"] ''Washington Times'' (''World Peace Herald''), August 9, 2007.
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| − | *Kyle Michaelis, [http://www.newnebraska.net/showDiary.do?diaryId=42 "Sen. Nelson Urged 'Don't Surrender to Al Qaeda',"] ''New Nebraska Network'', August 14, 2007.
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| − | ===Local blogs and discussion sites===
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| − | *''[http://www.newnebraska.blogspot.com New Nebraska Network'']
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| − | {{Congresspedia state|Nebraska|S|Nelson, Ben}}
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| − | [[Category:Congresspedia|Nelson, Ben]]
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| − | [[Category:Governors of Nebraska|Nelson, Ben]]
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| − | [[Category:Pro-life politicians|Nelson, Ben]]
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| − | [[Category:Democratic Party (USA)]]
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| − | {{Gang of 10|Nelson, Ben}}
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| − | <!-- From Wikipedia: -->
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| − | |term_start = January 3, 2001
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| − | |term_end = <!--Not present for continuing MOCs-->
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| − | |otherparty =
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| − | <!-- From Cause Caller -->
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| − | |Birth=May 17, 1941
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| − | |First Elected=November 7, 2000
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| − | |Next Election=November 6, 2012
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| − | |110th Leadership=None
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| − | |Freshman=No
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| − | |Previous Political Work=Nebraska governor
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| − | |110th Committee Membership=Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Energy Science and Technology, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Domestic and Foreign Marketing Inspection and Plant and Animal Health, Senate Committee on Agriculture Nutrition and Forestry/Subcommittee on Rural Revitalization Conservation Forestry and Credit, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Agriculture Rural Development Food and Drug Administration and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on the Financial Services and General Government, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Homeland Security, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Interior Environment and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Senate Committee on Appropriations/Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies, Senate Committee on Armed Services, Senate Committee on Armed Services/Subcommittee on Personnel, Senate Committee on Armed Services/Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, Senate Committee on Armed Services/Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Senate Committee on Rules and Administration
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| − | |Current Office=U.S. Senate
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| − | <!-- From Congresspedia -->
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| − | |District Office 1 Address=287 Denny Federal Building, 100 Centennial Mall North, Lincoln, NE 68508
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| − | |District Office 1 Phone=402-441-4600
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| − | |District Office 1 Fax=402-476-8753
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| − | |District Office 2 Address=7602 Pacific Street, Suite 205, Omaha, NE 68114
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| − | |District Office 2 Phone=402-391-3411
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E. Benjamin Nelson - OpenCongress Wiki
