THE LOUISIANA PURCHASE - UPDATED
Sunday, November 22, 2009 at 10:12AM Remember when Obama ascended to the White House all those promises of him bringing about a new era in American politics where integrity would be "restored"? Now read on..
"On the eve of Saturday's showdown in the Senate over health-care reform, Democratic leaders still hadn't secured the support of Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.), one of the 60 votes needed to keep the legislation alive. The wavering lawmaker was offered a sweetener: at least $100 million in extra federal money for her home state.
And so it came to pass that Landrieu walked onto the Senate floor midafternoon Saturday to announce her aye vote -- and to trumpet the financial "fix" she had arranged for Louisiana. "I am not going to be defensive," she declared. "And it's not a $100 million fix. It's a $300 million fix."
The Louisiana Purchase has been updated from 1803 - just another example of the change you can believe in.
Obamaland, socialised healthcare 
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Reader Comments (7)
I am less concerned about this kind of political move which has existed since forever so long as the funds in question are actually necessary. Louisiana has some of the worst health care issues in the nation and could use the funds. If there was some other issue involving actual graft or bribery, that would be a different story, but here it just seems to be basic politics. Landrieu doesn't have a reputation as corrupt in a State where that is rare.
Mahons
I recall at our beer summit you mentioning that Loiusiana was one of the poorest States so assistance is not of itself a bad thing but can the US afford all this pork for Ms Landrieu and what does it say that her support for the vote had to come at such a price - was there no principle involved?
David- I am not sure what the funds are allocated for, and of course we can hardly afford anything in the conventional sense given the economy. I suspect that she is in a vunerable poltical position in her home state and this will help her with a possibly unpopular health bill vote if she can demonstrate she has forced the Feds to send more funds their way.
We've always had to compromise in order to get things done on every single bill since the beginning of the nation and this doesn't seem to be out of the ordinary. If the funds are properly and wisely allocated (another issue entirely) then I don't think this is A Clinic To Nowhere if you get the unsubtle allusion.
this has nothing to do wth health care, remember this was supposed to cover people without health care. even after everything kiks in if you use their numbers of 47 million uninsured the bill by 2014 still leaves 30 million uninsured.
it also starts the taxes to pay for this monstrsity the day its passed yet not one provision of it comes on line till 2013.
the whole concept of forcing americans to buy something or be jailed just for being alive is unconstitutional let alone immoral
Louisiana has a useful offshore oil industry which serves the GoM and yet it is one of the poorest states in the the US. Is there a listing of the states in order of real wealth per capita, taking state debt into account. The reason why I mention real wealth is so that debt-addled California is put in its proper place.
Why did Landrieu have to announce that the thug State will violently rob $300million from Americans for her vote?
Surely these "negotiations" were broadcast on C-SPAN in accordance with Obamses' promise to do so. So, who's got the footage?
Err ... there is footage, right?
What you think about news - GOPers Hold 'Prayercast' to Ask God to Stop Health Reform ?
Wanna hear your opinion