ATR launches ad campaign targeted at Nelson

Americans for Tax Reform (ATR) will launch an ad campaign designed to discourage centrist Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) from voting for cloture on the Senate's healthcare reform bill.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) has courted Nelson for his vote at a time when Democratic leaders are leaning toward including an opt-out public option in the final reform bill. Nelson has long opposed most public plans, but said on Sunday that he could be open to a measure that allows states to opt-in to a government-run plan.

ATR, which is headed by conservative activist Grover Norquist, is launching ads both locally and nationally aimed at Nelson's decision to sign the "Taxpayer Protection Pledge" in 2006. The "pledge" is a document ATR encourages lawmakers to sign that promises they will not approve any new taxes.

The organization tied the pledge to healthcare reform, saying the bill would create new taxes.

"When Senator Nelson ran for the U.S. Senate, he made a written Pledge to his constituents and the American people to oppose any net income tax hikes," ATR said in a release. "The Senate healthcare bill contains nearly $500 billion in new tax hikes over the next decade, including billions in income tax hikes."

The ads will run for a three-week span, during which Reid and other Democratic leaders will put the finishing touches on their healthcare reform plan. The ads praises Nelson as "the only senator in his party to stand with taxpayers and take the pledge." 

It urges people to call Nelson's office and thank him and "tell him to keep fighting for Nebraska taxpayers."

"If Senator Nelson joins his Democrat colleagues on these votes, he will be breaking the Pledge he made to all Nebraskans to not raise income taxes. Now is the time where Senator Nelson must follow through on the promise he made to get elected," added the release.

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