A shout out to Representative Cao (R - Louisiana) - Kudos!

[pinto]

The bill needed 218 votes to pass, it garnered 220. Rep. Cao was the lone Republican to support this bill.

Not a perfect bill, by any means, but as noted by the House leadership, a foundation to build on for the future. And again, a shout out to Rep. Cao - you stood up for your constituents, regardless of party.



~ pinto

House Vote 887 - H.R.3962: On Passage Affordable Health Care for America Act
(Congressional District graphic)

http://politics.nytimes.com/congress/votes/111/house/1/...

Sweeping Health Care Plan Passes House
(NYT cover story)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/health/policy/08healt...

On the House floor, Democrats exchanged high-fives and cheered wildly — and Republicans sat quietly — when the tally display showed the 218th and decisive vote, after the leadership spent countless hours in recent days wringing commitments out of House members.

“We did what we promised the American people we would do,” said Representative Steny H. Hoyer, Democrat of Maryland and the majority leader, who also warned, “Much work remains.”

<snip>

Only one Republican, Representative Anh Cao of Louisiana, voted for the bill, and 39 Democrats opposed it.

<snip>

“Today’s may be a tough vote, but it was in 1935 when we passed Social Security,” Representative John Dingell, Democrat of Michigan and the dean of the House, said as the debate drew to a close late Saturday.

Some Democrats said they voted for the legislation so they could seek improvements in it. “This bill will get better in the Senate,” said Representative Jim Cooper, a Tennessee Democrat who has been outspoken in his criticism of some provisions of the bill but decided to support it. “If we kill it here, it won’t have a chance to get better.”

After the vote, Mr. Obama issued a statement praising the House and calling on the Senate to follow suit. “I am absolutely confident it will,” he said, “and I look forward to signing comprehensive health insurance reform into law by the end of the year.”

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/08/health/policy/08healt...

[Rhiannon12866]

1. K&R. Somehow I think Rep. Cao just got a lot more popular at home...

[demodonkey]

2. I just became a fan of his Facebook page. A small thank you to him. nt

[pinto]

3. "The cost of inaction is too high" - Rep Conyers

"The cost of inaction is too high"

http://conyers.house.gov/index.cfm?FuseAction=News.Pres...

Totally agree here. Not a perfect bill, by anyone's benchmark. Yet it establishes a better foundation for universal health care than we have now. This isn't over, by a long shot.

And now, the issue goes to the Senate and then to a joint conference committee. And that's only this legislative cycle.

Hang in there folks.

[Hippo_Tron]

4. The guy represents a district that voted for the President by 75%

Mr. Cao isn't voting for the bill out of the goodness of his heart. He's voting for the bill because he wants to be re-elected.