RSS
Home
Lone Republican Joseph Cao (R-LA) votes for health care reform
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
.jpg)
In this photo taken from pool video via APTN, the
final vote on the health care bill 3962 is shown. The
Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed the
landmark health care legislation Saturday night to
expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and
place tough new restrictions on the insurance
industry. (AP Photo/Pool)
Late Saturday night, a health care bill was successfully passed in the House of Representatives. Coverage of the vote revealed, elation as well as dismay in the halls of congress. The Huffington Post reports “Spontaneous floor celebration(s) radically outdid the reaction of the Yankees to winning the World Series recently. The normally stoic Pelosi had tears streaming down her cheek. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) bent over and vigorously pumped her fist. Arms were thrown in the air; hugs all around.”As the votes rolled in, one stuck out among all the others. That one vote was the sole ‘yea’ emanating from the Republican Party – that of Rep. Joseph Cao (R-LA).
The Alaska Dispatch reports, “So Saturday night, our own Young, with all of his glowering presence, stood next to Cao during the whole vote and worked to protect him and keep the party leaders at bay. It worked. Cao reportedly didn't want to be the deciding vote, but once it was sure to pass, with Young (R-AL) on one side, and another protectorate Rep. Frank Wolf (R-VA), on the other, Cao was free to be the lone Republican to vote 'aye.'
In an interview with CNN, Representative Cao revealed that his decision was based not on a secret agreement with the White House or a desire to gain notoriety as a true party maverick, but rather based on his perception of the needs of his district and his personal sense of conscious.
Representative Cao “said that he cast his vote in favor of reform only after an amendment greatly restricting the coverage of abortions was allowed to come to a vote.” He then spoke with the White House and said that his support of the bill was now a possibility.
Standing side by side with party leaders who had previously ignored the party line, the potential repercussions of splitting with the party on such an impassioned and visible issue were far from the mind of the young representative. "I had to make a decision and I felt that last night's decision was the right decision for my district," he added. "Even though it was not the popular decision for my party."
For more info:
Reaction to the legislation
Alaska Dispatch on the influence of Representative Young
Representative Joseph Cao
Related Articles:
Comments
