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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
Comments
Thank you congressman Cao...finally a republican who supports the American people instead of big business.
Your are a tax and spend liberal & a traitor to conservatism for which you are supposed to stand. I will donate to remove you from office next election.
Thank you Confressman CAO for having the courage to vote your concience- you did the right thing!
Pat
Thank you Congressman Cao. If 10% of those without health insurance get a contagious disease and cannot seek treatment. They can potentially spread the disease to all of us insured Americans. Please folks... “Healthcare For All”. Our lives could depend on it!
Conservative Republicans are going to vote out the liberal and moderate republicans. Bye Bye Cao. This bill is not good for America.
Apparently you are no better than Jefferson. You just voted yourself out of office. Did you get whatever Polosi promissed you. Is she going to cancel the dept for the hurrican money. You are another crooked politician.
Cao was voted in as a republican but his choice has been to represent the people of his district and more than 67% of them want affordable healthcare and a public option. It's great to see a politician actually represent the views of his constituents instead of the immaturity of the republican party. YEAH CAO...God bless you!
Fox News has reported that the Republican bill would only insure 3 million people over 10 years. They based their report of the numbers from the CBO. This is the alternative? Fail.
foxnews.com/politics/2009/11/05/house-gop-health-reduce-uninsured-million/
Congratulations to all the courageous Democrats and Republicans who voted against the criminal Obamacare SCAM in spite of all the lies, manipulation, intimidation, coercion and bribery of Obama and his accomplices. We have a debt of gratitude to you and will do our best to get you reelected.
Those who voted for the SCAM (including brainwashed or bribed Cao) , on the other hand, deserve not only to be voted OUT but to be shipped with Obama to Cuba or another failed socialist country so they can "enjoy" health care in such a country without having to transform the U.S. into a GULAG like Cuba.
What kind of God-fearing country are we when we believe that one company’s profits are more important than a fellow American's health or even his life? Should the sick not have a right to be healed...? God didn't charge to heal the sick so why are we? Matthew 8:1-17 Luke 4:38-41
Is it just me or is Congressman Cao kind of attractive?
LauraDee... you go got a good point!!!
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