Apparently the best way to "reform" healthcare is to make the rest of us pay for Nebraska's Medicaid program.

Is anyone else confused over the healthcare "reform" bill? Here are some of the highlights.

Opponents of the bill like Senator Ben Nelson (D-NE) were compared to slaveowners but Nelson eventually saw the light when presented with an offer he couldn't refuse.

The Bribe

Senator Nelson refused to vote for the Senate bill because he correctly perceived the massive Medicaid expansion as an unfunded mandate. He asked Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) to allow Nebraska to opt out, and Reid instead forced the rest of the country to pay for Nebraska's Medicaid program in perpetuity. The rest of the country – represented by big-hearted Democrat Senators with a soft spot for Nebraska's poor – voted for the deal. Reid called this business as usual.

My Granddaughter Just Bribed Ben Nelson

The bribe cost taxpayers $100 million over the next 10 years alone. In 2009 the US government ran a $1.4 trillion deficit. In other words, there is no money to fund the bribe and the money probably won't come into Treasury's coffers for another 30 years.

Tax & Spend

The bill costs one trillion dollars and is projected to reduce budgets deficits by $130 billion over ten years. The bill reduces budget deficits by raising taxes. The House bill taxes the wealthy while the Senate bill taxes insurance companies who offer so-called "Cadillac" insurance policies. (Don't worry, occupations with a high percentage of union workers will be exempt from the tax.)

The Poor

The bill provides subsidies for families earning up to $88,000 per year.

Late Bloomers

In the House bill, "children" up to the age of 26 can stay on their parents' health insurance policy.

$750 Fines

The bill increases insurance coverage by imposing fines of up to $750 or 2 percent of income on those who fail to obtain insurance. Meanwhile, the average insurance plan costs $13,375.

"Near-Universal" Coverage

Senator Nelson provided the 60^th vote for "near-universal" medical coverage. Near-universal means 9 million illegal aliens remain uninsured; they were explicitly excluded by President Obama.

Near-universal does not include the 14 million people who are eligible for Medicaid but have not signed up.

According to the Washington Post, the bill leaves 8% of the population uninsured.

The Most Important Piece of Social Legislation Since Social Security

So there you have it, wise Democrat Senators voted to fund Nebraska's Medicaid recipients in perpetuity to provide health insurance subsidies to people making up to $88,000 per year. This is, of course, the most important legislation since Social Security.