Nebraska Sen. Ben Nelson announced Friday he will vote for a motion Saturday that clears the way for Senate debate on health care reform.

Nelson, a centrist Democrat, holds one of the key votes required to reach the 60-vote threshhold needed to prevent a Republican filibuster.

The Senate needs to "start trying to fix a health care system that costs too much and delivers too little for Nebraskans," he said.

His vote on Saturday night will not be a vote for or against the Senate health care plan, Nelson stressed.

"It is only to begin debate and (provide) an opportunity to make improvements," he said.

"If you don't like a bill, why block your own opportunity to amend it?" he asked.

Nelson said he will "work to fix" portions of the bill he opposes.

"If that's not possible," he said, "I will oppose the second cloture motion -- needing 60 votes -- to end debate, and oppose the final bill."

Nelson's role as a swing senator on the issue has spawned weeks of saturation TV advertising in Nebraska by supporters and opponents of health care reform seeking to apply pressure to him.

Republican Sen. Mike Johanns has signaled his intention to vote against the Senate motion to proceed.

Meanwhile, Republican Gov. Dave Heineman weighed in with a warning that legislation proposed by the Senate Finance Committee could result in more than $127 million in increased Medicaid spending mandates for the state over five years, beginning in fiscal 2014.

If the state provided optional expanded coverage during fiscal 2011-2013, that would be an additional $497 million, Heineman wrote members of Nebraska's congressional delegation.

"Adding additional unfunded mandates to an already strained fiscal outlook for Nebraska would compound the impact on other essential programs, such as education," the governor wrote.

Reach Don Walton at 473-7248 or at dwalton@journalstar.com.