The New Louisiana Purchase: Landrieu's Vote Bought With $100 Million

Landrieu's vote bought with a $100 million sweetener. Section 2006 of ObamaCare says that all states that have had a disaster area in the last seven years get a share of this money, and then... eliminates each of those states except Louisiana. So it's a straight-up vote buy, disguised, barely, as something else.

Krauthammer suggested (on Brett Baier) that Lincoln should ask for at least $250 million, as she's in deeper trouble.

How about a different job?

While she might ask for a similar home-state largesse as Landrieu, that might not suffice for someone as vulnerable as Lincoln. She more likely needs an escape hosta.

I polled some veterans of the Bush administration and the Senate who agreed with my hunch that the best way to help Lincoln is for President Obama to make her secretary of agriculture.

Call:

Mary Landrieu of Louisiana
202-224-5824

Ben Nelsonof Nebraska
202-224-6551

Blanche Lincoln of Arkansas
202-224-4843

Evan Bayh of Indiana
202-224-5623

Ben Nelson has already promised a "yes" vote but it can't hurt -- at least get him to follow through on his threat to sustain a filibuster if the abortion funding is left in the bill.

posted by Ace at 07:10 PM

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