The RNC Funded 40% of Cao's Campaign

By Kyle-Anne Shiver and Lee Cary

Over one-third of Congressman Anh “Joseph” Cao’s 2008 congressional campaign was paid for by the Republican National Committee.

Cao was the lone Republican “Yes” vote for the Pelosi healthcare reform bill.

According to Federal Elections Committee (FEC) records, of the $242,529 he spent on his campaign for the 2nd District of Louisiana in 2008, $83,971 in “party associated expenditures” came from the RNC. Additionally, the RNC spent another $7,000 on “independent expenditures” on Cao’s behalf, plus another $5,000 came from RNC “contributions.” That makes almost $96,000.

Also, Every Republican Is Crucial (ERICPAC) contributed $5,000 and the Republican Member Senate Fund threw in $2,000. Then there’s the $7,071 from the National Republican Congressional Committee and $500 from the South Carolina Republican Party. That takes the GOP organizational money up about 43% of the Cao’s total campaign funding.

In a press release, Cao noted the importance that the Stupak-Pitts amendment paid in his decision to vote for the bill.

Cao said: “Before the Stupak-Pitts amendment was adopted as part of this health reform bill, the bill failed to explicitly include the longstanding policy prohibiting federal funding of elective abortion and plans which include elective abortion.”

According to a letter from the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops dated November 7, 2009, “The [Stupak-Pitts] Amendment will not affect coverage of abortion in nonsubsidized health plans, and will not bar anyone from purchasing a supplemental abortion policy with their own funds.”

Cao said: “Thank to the Stupak-Pitts Amendment, taxpayer dollars will not go to supporting elective abortions, and for thousands of my constituents, this was a top priority. By incorporating this amendment into the health reform bill, my colleagues and I made this bill better, and that is an achievement of which I will always be proud.”

According the FEC records, the National Right To Life Political Action Committee donated $182 to Cao’s campaign.