Posted on 02/04/2010 2:16:59 PM PST by NormsRevenge
Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) defended her role in the $300 million “Louisiana Purchase” Thursday, saying she attached it to the healthcare bill at Gov. Bobby Jindal’s (R-La.) request and that it was not a condition of her support for the bill.
Landrieu used a floor speech, press conference and private e-mails from Jindal to fire back against critics of the $300 million-plus in Medicaid funds that became known as the “Louisiana Purchase.”
“Nothing about this effort was secret — it was public from the very first meeting that happened at the governor’s mansion in January,” Landrieu said. “It was a broadly supported delegation effort from the beginning. And it was never a condition of my support for the bill.
“There should be some concerns about specific arrangements that were made, or for specific promises of support. This was not one of them. And the record will show that.”
Landrieu took the rare step of releasing a Sept. 16, 2009 e-mail from the Jindal administration to the state’s congressional delegation. In the e-mail from Julia Kenny, chief of staff for the Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Kenny urges the delegation to “make our case” for an effort similar to one undertaken by Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) to secure Medicaid funds for Nevada.
The e-mail also said Louisiana officials were working to secure the Medicaid money from the Department of Health and Human Services for the money to repair what the state viewed as a flawed calculation under the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) program.
“We will be working on a joint statement with Gov. Jindal and [HHS] Secretary [Kathleen] Sebelius to say they are working on the FMAP issue and asking Congress to solve it,” Kenny wrote. “That’s huge, if the commitment does lead to follow-through. Once there is agreement, then we will draft a statement for the delegation’s consideration applauding the secretary and administration for recognizing the problem and working with Congress to solve it. Thank you.”
Jindal released a statement in November acknowledging the provision was a state effort, but has been largely silent since the controversy erupted. Landrieu expressed anger at that “barely sufficient” gesture on Thursday, saying she has been made a scapegoat for something she was attempting on behalf of a Republican governor.
“The people of not just my state but the nation need to know the truth,” she said. “(Jindal) was asked on a number of occasions, and he just declined to comment. He could have stood up on any number of occasions and repeated that statement. He’s been asked about this 20-30 times publicly … A Republican governor asked for this.”
Uncertainty over the Democratic strategy for the healthcare reform bill prompted Landrieu to speak up Thursday, she said, emphasizing that the Medicaid provision should remain attached to the bill if it moves forward, or attached to another piece of legislation if the health reform effort fails.
“It’s clear to me that not only do I not know, but I think the members of our Democratic side are unclear about how we’re going to move forward,” she said. “When it became clear to me that there’s really no Democratic path forward for healthcare, the best thing I can do is clear the air now about this so that whenever we re-engage, this can be taken off the table and put in a separate category.”
Landrieu said she has won support for the provision from the administration, through Sebelius, as recently as three days ago.
Landrieu also released an Oct. 23, 2009 statement that noted that Reid and Landrieu were working on the Medicaid provision — two months before the healthcare vote.
The GOP has attacked Landrieu’s provision, claiming it was part of the deals made by Democrats to get the 60 votes necessary for the Dec. 24 passage. Along with a similar provision won by Sen. Ben Nelson (D-Neb.) — which he said he did at the request of Gov. Dave Heineman (R-Neb.) — the GOP mocked Landrieu’s provision as “the Louisiana Purchase” and Nelson’s deal as the "Cornhusker Kickback.”
It’s the Republican’s fault...
There is a fat pitch just waiting for you to hammer into the upper deck.
This is why Republican’s should never get in bed with Democrats. The get used as human shields.
This latest bit does not matter to me...Jindal does not impress me in the least! I do not understand why people are on his band wagon.
She produced private e-mail, is that legal? Was she wearing a cable repairman’s uniform? Better call the US Marshal.
IF (a big “if”) Jindal asked for the money — I’m pretty sure he didn’t tell you to get it by taking a bribe for your vote on the healthcare bill.
The money isn’t the problem ... your lack of ethics is the problem.
SnakeDoc
She sure took her time coming up with THAT excuse, didn’t she?
Atta girl, dump it in the brown republican’s lap.
Too lame.
If he did, It just indicts them both. It doesn’t clear her.
Is that what she is going for here. If I go down I’m bringing everyone else with me? I hope that is her intent if only because I can’t imagine anyone being stupid enough to believe this gets her of the hook.
SnakeDoc: “IF (a big “if”) Jindal asked for the money — I’m pretty sure he didn’t tell you to get it by taking a bribe for your vote on the healthcare bill.”
That is EXACTLY what he expected, as he knew that her vote was worth alot of money and that is why he asked for it. This explains his refusal to join criticism of the LA Purchase.
Let’s move on to the next 2012 candidate. This one is toast.
gggeessshhhh , the responses so far .. it’s only 300 million.. :-)
nancy pelosi spends that on a week-end
Our own POS congress critter and stupid brother still hang around just like “Ted the Swimmer” and the rest of that family.
“Baby Fat” is the same as Pi$$losi.
Mitch her brother was a mix up in the hospital when he was born.
That was my first reaction. Jindal needs to either confirm or refute this, and right now would be nice.
Well ya know Servant,
Spring training is about to start here in Florida.
Here In Port St. Lucie I’ve been seeing a few players running already either getting in or staying in shape as I drive around. Usually pitchers this early.
Pretty cool. Some of these guys are always monsters. Huge.
Run faster than I drive.
Looks like a cat covering up in the litter box to me.
It may be true that this was his request.
That would be a major “I’M A STINKIN RINO” sign to me, if true.
There’s something about Mary.........
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