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Ben's Biography
With a reputation for problem solving and a voting record to support his common sense approach to issues, Nebraska’s Senator Ben Nelson has carved for himself a bipartisan role in an often overly partisan Washington environment. Senator Nelson is known as a consensus builder who has worked to forge compromise agreements between the Bush Administration and the Senate on tax cuts, Medicare reform, and homeland security. During the early days of Obama Administration, faced with a severe economic crisis, Senator Nelson co-founded a bipartisan “Jobs Squad” of senators that cut $108 billion in spending from an economic recovery plan subsequently enacted into law. His efforts helped target the bill more on job creation and tax relief to turn the nation’s troubled economy around.
This sensible approach is rooted in Nelson’s background. Nelson is a native of McCook (pop. 8,000), a southwest Nebraska town that has been home to two of Nebraska’s U.S. Senators and three Governors. Perhaps Nelson’s future was written in the stars, for at age 17 Nelson won his first election, as governor in a mock legislature, sparking his interest in public service.
As a young man at the University of Nebraska - Lincoln, Ben Nelson spent his Sundays serving as a lay minister to rural Nebraska congregations. Foreshadowing his future in public service, Nelson chose law school over the ministry. He earned a bachelor’s degree in 1963, a master’s degree in 1965 and a law degree from the University of Nebraska in 1970.
Following his time as a student, Nelson enjoyed a successful career in insurance law. He served as CEO of the Central National Insurance Group, as chief of staff and executive vice president of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners, and as director of the Nebraska Department of Insurance.
In 1990, Ben Nelson entered the realm of Nebraska politics by running for Governor. He won the Democratic primary by only 42 votes and entered the governor’s office by besting incumbent Kay Orr by 4,000 votes. Nelson’s plan as Governor was to bridge the gaps between rural and urban areas – a “One Nebraska” – and create a “more efficient and effective state government.” These successes did not go unrecognized, for when Nelson was re-elected Governor in 1994, he attracted 74% of the vote, the largest margin of victory for a governor in half century.
In 2000, Nelson ran for the U.S. Senate to fill the vacancy created by the retirement of Senator Bob Kerrey. Nelson, a conservative Democrat, carried the day even as Republican presidential candidate George W. Bush won Nebraska with 62% of the vote.
Nelson’s rural roots have always served as the basis for his policy positions. As governor, Nelson pressed to expand the ethanol industry in Nebraska. He also established the Governors’ Ethanol Coalition as part of the National Governors’ Association. Under Nelson’s leadership, Nebraska moved to the forefront of ethanol production, increasing production from 15 million gallons to more than 300 million gallons by the time he left office in 1997. Due to this growth, more than 6,000 Nebraskans are now employed directly or indirectly in Nebraska ethanol production. In the Senate, one of the first bills Nelson cosponsored aimed at boosting production of ethanol and other renewable fuels. He also currently serves as National Co-Chair of Ethanol Across America, a grassroots organization designed to increase ethanol awareness and production.
As a former two-term governor, Nelson understands the obligations of the Federal government to the states and remains a firm believer in states’ rights. He has supported full funding for education for children with disabilities and opposed the No Child Left Behind Act because its requirements duplicated Nebraska’s existing standards and were not fully funded. In 2002, he teamed up with Maine Senator Susan Collins, a colleague from the Centrist Coalition, to provide $20 billion to states that were suffering from dramatically reduced revenue during an economic slowdown. Drawing on these successes, Nelson served as the Vice Chairman of the Centrist Coalition in 2005.
Serving on the Senate Agriculture Committee, Nelson’s priorities began with the drought that has plagued the United States for the last eight years. As Governor, Nelson helped establish the National Drought Mitigation Center at the University of Nebraska and has tirelessly pushed Congress to provide comprehensive emergency disaster assistance for agriculture producers. As Senator, he has worked to make disaster relief a part of the budget, so producers don’t have to turn repeatedly to emergency measures to get help.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Nelson strives to reform and provide support to our armed services and military personnel. He has used his position on the committee to serve as an advocate for Offutt Air Force Base in Bellevue, pushing for major modernization projects at Offutt and other military installations in Nebraska, while also directing defense research and development dollars to Nebraska companies. Nelson also works closely with STRATCOM officials to ensure the command’s role in our national security and defense strategy remains prominent. On the national level, Nelson teamed up with Senators Collins and John Warner in 2007 to co-author legislation enacted into law establishing 18 benchmarks by which to measure progress in the U.S. efforts in Iraq and by the Iraqi government.
As Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Personnel Subcommittee, Nelson works to ensure troops have the proper support they need to defend our country. He has had great success working to improve benefits from health care to education to combat pay for America’s service men and women and continues to push the Pentagon to improve policies involving deployment and rotation.
Nelson’s commitment to strengthening our military to enhance national security, however, goes beyond active duty personnel. He is committed to keeping America’s promise to our veterans as well. As a member of the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee from 2001 through 2004 he pushed to preserve access to health care for Nebraska veterans and to expand the Veterans Administration’s use of clinics to provide quality care for Nebraska veterans.
As further evidence of Senator Nelson’s bipartisan spirit, in 2005, he was a member of a bipartisan group of Senators known as "The Gang of 14" who joined together to break a months-long logjam in the Senate over judicial nominations. Nelson was a major player in this group of seven Republicans and seven Democrats, which helped the Senate to bridge a partisan divide that threatened to end in a dramatic showdown, a major change of Senate rules, and a legacy leaving both sides furious and frustrated.
In 2008, Nelson was asked to join another bipartisan group of Senators known initially as “The Gang of 10.” The group reached an agreement aimed at overcoming a deadlock in the Senate on energy legislation, attracted another 10 bipartisan supporters and planned to push legislation until a historic economic downturn hit the nation in the fall and pushed economic recovery efforts to the forefront.
Adding to his ability to powerfully represent the people of Nebraska, Ben Nelson joined the Senate Appropriations Committee in 2007. His experience balancing Nebraska's budget is an asset as he works to reign in federal spending, while ensuring legitimate projects in Nebraska are funded.
As a proud grandfather, Nelson enjoys spending time with his family, reading, hunting, fishing, and the whole of outdoor life. An avid hunter, Nelson has won both the domestic Grand Slam and international World Slam for wild turkeys and has hunted on safari in Africa.
Ben Nelson and his wife, Diane, continue to live in Omaha. They have four children, Kevin, Sarah, Christie, and Patrick as well as five grandchildren. Nelson commutes home nearly every weekend to be with his family and with the people of Nebraska.