United Liberty

Two Democrats in the Senate, Ben Nelson (D-NE) and Arlen Specter (D-PA) would violate pledges not to cast votes to increase taxes if they decide to support ObamaCare:

Americans for Tax Reform, the group which persuaded Nelson and Specter to sign the pledge, will press both lawmakers on the issue during next month’s Senate healthcare debate, putting them in an awkward position.

“If they vote for this bill as the written it violates the pledge,” said Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, in an interview.

The $848 billion piece of legislation would extend health insurance coverage to an additional 31 million Americans and would impose new taxes and tax increases. An analysis by Republicans on the Senate Budget Committee estimates the bill would raise taxes by $494 billion.

Nelson isn’t up for re-election until 2012. Specter is up for re-election next year and faces a tough challenge from Pat Toomey.