[StBernard] Sen. Landrieu to host New Orleans fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid

[Westley Annis]

Sen. Landrieu to host New Orleans fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid
By Robert Travis Scott, The Times-Picayune 
November 20, 2009, 9:11AM
Sen. Mary Landrieu, D-La., will host a fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader
Harry Reid, D-Nev., in New Orleans next month, an event that comes on the
heels of Reid's assistance getting Louisiana a windfall of Medicaid money in
the health care reform bill.

The event was planned "several weeks ago," according to Landrieu's office.
She and political consultant James Carville will host a brunch on Dec. 12 at
the St. Charles Avenue home of David Voelker, an investor who chairs the
Louisiana Recovery Authority and was a supporter of Barack Obama's
presidential campaign.

Reid is leading Senate Democrats in an effort to pass a revamp of the
nation's health care system that is strongly opposed by Republicans. He also
faces a tough re-election bid in 2010.

As a moderate Democrat with reservations about the public-option health
insurance program and other elements of the bill, Landrieu has been courted
heavily to help pass the legislation with both procedural and direct votes
on the measure.

She has not said which side she will take on a key vote expected Saturday to
let the Senate start debate on the bill.

With help from Reid, the health care bill provides Louisiana with between
$100 million and $300 million in Medicaid financing for fiscal 2011. 

The money would help refill a large decrease in Medicaid funding due to a
new federal calculation of the Louisiana's needs based on a rise in the
state's personal income levels. State health officials say the income rise
was an abnormal spike due to large sums of insurance and recovery money
flowing into the state after Hurricane Katrina.

The fundraiser sets the entry bar for individuals at $4,800, plus $1,000 for
a guest.