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Cao lone Republican to vote for reform bill
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Rep. Ahn Cao from New Orleans was nthye sole Republican to vote for the House healthcare reform bill reports the New York Times. (http://prescriptions.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/health-bill-earns-one-republican-vote/?scp=1&sq=Cao&st=cse)
His reasons?
“'I read the versions of the House 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.'
"In the statement, Mr. Cao also said that he had secured a personal commitment from President Obama on health issues important to Louisiana, including disparities in federal reimbursement rates for Medicare. And while many Democrats complained that tighter restrictions on insurance coverage for abortions had threatened support for the bill on their side, Mr. Cao said that those tougher restrictions encouraged him to support the bill.
"Mr. Cao, a freshman from New Orleans, was elected last year in an upset victory over Representative William J. Jefferson, a Democrat who was under indictment on federal corruption charges at the time and has since been convicted."
