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Update: Lone GOP vote came after call from President Obama

Mon, 9 Nov 2009 13:25:41 +0000

Rep. Cao brought his daughter to a town-hall event last month that President Obama held in New Orleans. Washington (CNN) - Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao was the only Republican to vote in favor of the Democratic health care bill that passed the House late Saturday, a vote that came after President Obama called to personally to ask for his support, Cao told CNN. The president dialed the freshman congressman from Louisiana around noon on Saturday, hours before a vote on an amendment offered by anti-abortion Democrats that banned most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers in the insurance "exchange" the legislation would create. That measure passed later in the evening. Cao said he explained to the president he could not support the health care bill without the amendment, but said he would support the bill if the abortion measure passed. It was a sentiment he also expressed to House GOP leadership ahead of the vote, he said. Earlier: I put needs of my ...

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Update: Lone GOP vote came after call from President Obama

Sun, 8 Nov 2009 17:03:41 +0000

Washington (CNN) - Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao was the only Republican to vote in favor of the Democratic health care bill that passed the House late Saturday, a vote that came after President Obama called to personally to ask for his support, Cao told CNN. The president dialed the freshman congressman from Louisiana around noon on Saturday, hours before a vote on an amendment offered by anti-abortion Democrats that banned most abortion coverage from the public option and other insurance providers in the insurance "exchange" the legislation would create. That measure passed later in the evening. Cao said he explained to the president he could not support the health care bill without the amendment, but said he would support the bill if the abortion measure passed. It was a sentiment he also expressed to House GOP leadership ahead of the vote, he said. Earlier: I put needs of my district first, Cao says The final vote came after several discussions about the bill with White House officials. ...

Find more top political news, videos, and blogs on BeltwayBlips: White House, Barack Obama, Howard Dean, Health care, Peter DeFazio, CNN