Politics/AP
Senate health bill has Medicaid money for Louisiana as top Democrat seeks its senator's vote
Associated Press
11/19/09 1:10 PM PST
WASHINGTON — Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid's health care bill has millions of dollars to help Louisiana finance Medicaid at a time when he is hoping that state's wavering Democratic senator will support overhaul legislation.
The bill provides at least $100 million for Louisiana in extra funds for Medicaid, the state-federal health program for the poor.
Louisiana's Democratic senator, Mary Landrieu, has said she is undecided about the Democratic health care package. Reid needs the votes of all 60 Democratic senators for the Senate debate to begin.
Landrieu spokesman Aaron Saunders says the senator worked with Reid to get the Medicaid money into the bill, but remains undecided about whether she will vote to allow debate to start.
