Nation/World

La. Republican backs Medicaid expansion, wins House seat

Looks like Obamacare was not such a big loser after all.

Republican businessman Vance McAllister Saturday won a special Louisiana election to a vacant congressional seat after campaigning on support for the Medicaid expansion spelled out in the new health care law.

Neil Riser, his opponent, had been the favorite of more conservative Republicans. McAllister is conservative, too, but campaigned on a platform of bringing a calmer tone to the fractured Capitol.

He also was aided by an endorsement from the popular star of the "Duck Dynasty" television series.

McAllister said the state should go along with the expansion in Medicaid spelled out in the Affordable Care Act. The state's governor, Bobby Jindal, has not gone along with the expansion, and Riser agreed.

According to Reuters, McAllister told supporters in a victory speech that "It's gonna be fun. I guess Fox News, get ready. Sometimes the truth ain't what you want to hear, but it's what you're going to get."

David Lightman

McClatchy Washington Bureau

ADVERTISEMENT