Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska breaks ranks (you remember Ben, he won cash and prizes for a yes vote on Health Care Reform)

CBS News:
Senate Republicans held together Monday afternoon to block efforts by Democrats to officially begin debate on the financial industry reform bill.
No Republicans cast a "yes" vote on the procedural motion, keeping Democrats from the 60 vote threshold needed to move forward. One Democrat, Nebraska's Ben Nelson, voted "no" outright.

Just in case Ben Nelson is not a household name...

Fox News 12/20/09
Nelson also won several other concessions, most notably a commitment from the federal government to fully fund his state's expanded Medicaid population. All states get full federal assistance for the first three years of the bill -- but Nebraska would be the only state getting full assistance afterward. One Democratic official put the cost to the federal government at $45 million over a decade.

The concessions didn't end there. Nelson also got an exemption from a fee on non-profit health insurers -- the language was written in a way that only applies to Nebraska and Michigan.

Democratic senators defended the Nebraska deal. Sen. Kent Conrad, D-N.D., said all states get a lot of federal aid for Medicaid anyway, and that special treatment is hardly unique to Nebraska. "Personally, every state gets some kind of differential treatment based on their situation," he told "Fox News Sunday."

"People fight for their own states. That's the nature of a democracy," said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn. GRANDPA: I thought democracy included a faint amount of fairness for all Amy, including what is in the best interest of the entire country. Democracy has become synonymous with racking up debt and pass it along to others for payment...like our grandchildren.

18 months and yet no financial reform. At 15 months, my grandson is walking, early attempts at conversation, displays a pleasant disposition and an identifiable personality and eats solid food. Unlike congress, he has made meaningful and monumental and strides in 5/6th the time. What is your excuse!