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Sen. Nelson to vote against jobs bill

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE
Photo courtesy Wikimedia Commons
Sen. Ben Nelson, D-NE

By Katie Knapp Schubert

Omaha, NE – Nebraska Senator Ben Nelson says he'll vote against a new $140 billion jobs bill.

The Senate passed the jobs bill Wednesday afternoon on a 62-36 vote. If signed in to law, it'll extend unemployment benefits for up to 99 weeks in most states. But Nelson believes it'll also add $100 billion to the national debt.

Nelson introduced an amendment Tuesday that would have paid for the new jobs bill in part with unallocated stimulus money. That amendment was blocked, something Nelson says is disappointing.

His comments came Wednesday during the Senator's weekly conference call with reporters.