WASHINGTON — Hours before Democrats passed a historic cloture motion to advance the health care bill, one of its critical backers announced that his vote remains conditional on a set of demands.

It had better not tax the rich, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) said Sunday in an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union, or he could withdraw his support.

CNN paraphrased Nelson as saying, “Imposing a tax on wealthier Americans, a funding mechanism employed in the House health care reform bill, could also cause him to withhold his vote for the final version of the bill.”

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A surtax on the wealthiest Americans is one method Democrats have considered to pay for the bill’s $871 billion price tag over 10 years. But in the series of cloture votes ahead, Democrats can’t afford to lose the support of a single member, so Nelson’s demand is likely to be be taken seriously.

“I’m an independent-minded sort of person,” Nelson said. “And I think that’s demonstrated. I don’t take my marching orders from a party or a group or any other entity.”

The legislation currently contains a 10 percent excise tax on indoor tanning services, according to the CBO, which was added in lieu of a 5 percent tax on cosmetic surgery.

Nelson did not address either of these specifically, but they could fall under the purview of a tax on rich Americans.

A November poll conducted by the Associated Press found that Americans are largely supportive of taxing the wealthiest to pay for health care reform.

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The House health care bill, which passed in November, slaps a 5.4 percent income tax surcharge on individuals making more than $500,000 annually, as well as families making more than $1 million.

Nelson also reiterated his earlier stance that restrictions on abortions must be strong, or else he could back out. This position led to a series of 11th hour negotiations with the Democratic leadership that ultimately won his approval.

Finally, Nelson insisted there be no public option in the final bill — which was scrapped last week due to recalcitrant senators — or Democrats could lose his vote.

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“I suppose putting in a public option would do it,” Nelson said on CNN.