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Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) faces questions from reporters. The senator reportedly convinced Democratic leaders to include a provision in the health care bill awarding her state $300 million. (AP Photo/Harry Hamburg).
Facing fallout from an apparent sale of her health care vote to Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) and the Democratic Caucus, Senator Mary Landrieu (D-LA) took a shocking approach in response to the payoff allegations: she flaunted it!
To help secure her vote, Reid included a provision in the bill sought by Landrieu to provide increased Medicaid funds for states recovering from major disasters such as 2005’s Hurricane Katrina that devastated New Orleans and parts of Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama. When the bill is closely examined, however, the provision provides immense financial support for only one state: Landrieu's Louisiana.
Landrieu defended the inclusion of the provision and said Republican critics who accuse her of selling her vote for $100 million are wrong and that she has the support of Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal (R) and Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.
Then, in a statement sure to be repeated by Republicans endlessly over the coming weeks of Senate health care debate, the senator flaunted the inclusion of the provision. “I will correct something. It’s not $100 million, it’s $300 million, and I’m proud of it and will keep fighting for it,” Landrieu told reporters after her floor speech. “But that is not why I started this health care debate; I started this health care debate for all the reasons I just mentioned in my statement” on the floor.
The apparent purchase of the senator's vote is already garnering significant response from Republicans as well as taxpayers footing the bill for this provision. The nickname for the provision? "The Louisiana Purchase."
For additional stories on Sen. Landrieu, see also:
59: Democrats need one vote for filibuster-proof majority on health care test
$100 million vote? Sen. Landrieu announces support of key healthcare vote
Is Harry Reid buying Sen. Landrieu's healthcare vote?
Comments
By stealing (legal, unconstitutional plunder) from my family, she will, as surely as there is gravity, answer for her unethical and clearly immoral behavior. The federal government has no constitutional authority to give a single state anything and this fact is past due for a challenge. I am certain that Sen. Landrieu will get what she deserves for this criminal behavior.
This is the final straw. This is beyond evil and must be stopped! The FED government must be cut off from the purse of the public at all costs.
Demand the recall of all Elected officials and tell your bank to drop dead. Save your family not La Familia siciliano alla Senato!
Wow. We now have US Senators that are PROUD of stealing 300 million dollars from the citizens to buy a vote. $300 million whore. This is pathetic.
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