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Talking Points Memo: Done Deal
TPM Election Central: Who Is Joseph Cao?
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com: Joseph Cao: Health Care's LONE Republican Supporter Is Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao
Reactions
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RT @AnhJosephCao: Voted for life tonight: http://bit.ly/2B3RQR (On what basis? For more pls see: http://bit.ly/DkNYE 11 days ago |
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RT @AnnaArco The Republican who voted for the healthcare bill http://bit.ly/2B3RQR <-- This is what it means to be a Catholic politican. 11 days ago |
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RT @CatholicNewsSvc: New Orleans archbishop praises lone Republican who backed health care bill (scroll to last graf) http://bit.ly/2B3RQR 11 days ago |
Done Deal
Talking Points Memo —
House passes Dem health care bill by a vote of 220 to 215.
One Republican voted for the Democratic bill: Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao (R-LA). See this post from earlier this evening on the background to his vote. Here's Cao's statement on his vote.
Late Update: Here's the roll call on the final vote. And for those keeping score at home here's the roll call on the Stupak abortion amendment.
...
Who Is Joseph Cao?
TPM Election Central —
So who is Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA), the one Republican who voted yes on the House Democrats' health care bill?
Cao was first elected to Congress in 2008 from the solidly-Democratic New Orleans district, winning a shocking victory against Democratic Rep. William Jefferson, who was then under indictment (and was later convicted) on corruption charges. Over the course of his life, he was a child refugee from Vietnam, a former Jesuit seminarian, and an attorney.
Cao's district voted 75%-23% for Barack Obama in 2008, but Cao was able to beat Jefferson in ...
Joseph Cao: Health Care's LONE Republican Supporter Is Rep. Anh "Joseph" Cao
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com —
... After the vote, Cao put out a long statement explaining his vote and emphasizing the fact that he also voted in favor of a key anti-abortion amendment, presumably to try to stave off the heavy incoming attacks from conservative activists. ...
The 39 House Democrats who Voted Against Their Party's Health Care Bill
Politics Daily —
... A short note about the lone Republican who voted for the bill, first-term Louisiana Rep. Anh Cao. Cao won his seat because he was lucky enough to be running against nine-term Democrat William Jeffersion, who had been indicted and later found guilty on corruption charges. Cao said he did it after listening to "the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding - if they are able to obtain health care at all." But he also underlined his support for an amendment That would bar any public plan from covering ...
Obama's health win: 'Let's make history'
The Swamp —
... "I read the versions of the House bill.,'' Cao explained of his vote. " listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding - if they are able to obtain health care at all. Louisianans needs real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children. ...
Obama's health win: 'Let's make history'
The Swamp —
... "I read the versions of the House bill.,'' Cao explained of his vote. " listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding - if they are able to obtain health care at all. Louisianans needs real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children. ...
Quote For The Day I
The Daily Dish | By Andrew Sullivan —
“I read the versions of the House [health reform] bill. I listened to the countless stories of Orleans and Jefferson Parish citizens whose health care costs are exploding – if they are able to obtain health care at all. Louisianans needs real options for primary care, for mental health care, and for expanded health care for seniors and children," - Republican congressman Anh Cao of Louisiana, who voted for health insurance reform last night. ...
Cao To Steele: Come And Get Me -- Just Remember You Need My District
TPM Election Central —
... Cao told CNN that President Obama called him around noon yesterday to personally ask for his vote on the bill. Read Cao's statement on his vote here. ...
Kucinich on House Healthcare Bill: 'Bailout Under a Blue Cross'
The BRAD BLOG —
... the popular decision for my party," Cao was quoted by CNN. "A lot of my constituents are uninsured, a lot of them are poor ... It was the right decision for the people of my district."
In exchange for his vote, Cao asked Obama for, and presumably received assurances that "the administration would do more to help with ongoing disaster relief efforts in his New Orleans district, specifically by forgiving millions in disaster loans to the region," according to CNN. Cao's full official statement explaining his vote attempts to step gingerly through several different ...
One cheer for Joseph Cao
The Reaction —
... Second, Cao voted for it -- on top of the Stupak Amendment -- because President Obama basically bought him off. Here's how Cao himself put it: ...
One lone Republican vote
MNpublius.com —
There are 178 Republicans in the House of Representatives. One of them voted in support of health care reform. One.
That one vote was Anh “Joseph” Cao, who said the following about this support for the bill:
I have always said that I would put aside partisan wrangling to do the business of the people. My vote tonight was based on my priority of doing what is best for my constituents.
Good for Rep. Cao, but one single Republican voting for health care reform does not ...
Michael J.W. Stickings: One Cheer for Joseph Cao
Politics on HuffingtonPost.com —
... it included the vile, anti-choice Stupak Amendment that had been passed by an alliance of anti-choice Republicans and Democrats (Stupak being a Democrat), and that was the way to buy off some of those Democrats reluctant to vote for the bill as it was. If the Stupak Amendment hadn't been included, he apparently would have voted no.
Second, Cao voted for it -- on top of the Stupak Amendment -- because President Obama basically bought him off. Here's how Cao himself put it:
Today, I obtained a commitment from President Obama that he ...
The Future Is Chaos: GOP Threatens Retribution Against Cao For Health Care Vote
Think Progress —
... and pressing for more federal funds for his district, which is still struggling after Hurricane Katrina. In a statement, Cao explained that the needs of his constituents trumped partisan politicking: ...
