Senator Nelson's state was paid off for his vote

Senate Democrats Saturday secured the 60 votes necessary to stop a GOP filibuster to their legislation to reform health care.

Sen. Ben Nelson, D-Neb., the last holdout, said he would support the bill following revisions.

At a press conference, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said that revisions made to the legislation have made the bill "stronger."

Remember when Sen. Mary Landrieu got her $300 million "Louisiana Purchase?"

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid sent $300 million in Medicaid funds to Louisiana in order to obtain Landrieu's vote to begin debate on the bill.

Sen. Nelson was given his own payoff, the federal government will pick up most his state's future Medicaid tab -- forever.

As part of the deal to win Nelson's support, the federal government will pay for Nebraska's new Medicaid recipients, which will cost approximately $45 million over the first decade.

Medicaid is normally paid for with a combination of federal and state funding, Nelson's deal says that any Medicaid beneficiaries who join the program after the bill passes will be paid for solely by the federal government.

Nelson would not comment on the provision, saying that he would leave it to Reid to discuss details.

Reid defended Nebraska's special treatment saying, "You’ll find a number of states that are treated differently than other states. That’s what legislating is all about. It's compromise."

Nelson also struck a deal on abortion funding that allows states to prohibit abortion coverage in the new insurance exchanges and requires that health plans that provide abortion services segregate the premiums from federal funds so that taxpayer money doesn't pay for abortions.

In addition Nelson got an exemption for non-profit insurers from the bill's $6 billion annual excise tax, and an index for inflation to adjust the $2,500 cap on contributions to flexible health spending accounts.