GOP Rep: Reform vote best for district

WASHINGTON, Nov. 8 (UPI) -- The lone Republican U.S. House member who voted in favor of a healthcare reform measure says it was the best decision for his New Orleans district.

Rep. Joseph Cao, R-La., appearing Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union," said he didn't care as much about his popularity within the GOP as he did for the impoverished residents of his district, who, who said, will benefit from measures within the reform bill, which passed the House on a 220-215 vote late Saturday.

"I felt last night's decision was the proper decision for my district even though it was not the popular decision for my party," Cao said, later adding: "A lot of my constituents are uninsured, a lot of them are poor. It was the right decision for the people of my district."

The U.S. broadcaster said Cao is the first Vietnamese-American to serve in the U.S. House, gaining his seat by defeating indicted nine-term Democratic incumbent William Jefferson last year.

"When that was worked out … I called the White House and said I could possibly support the bill," Cao told CNN, saying he discussed receiving federal help for New Orleans in its continuing recovery from Hurricane Katrina.