Report: Undecided Dem to miss Ohio healthcare rally

Rep. John Boccieri (D-Ohio) will miss a healthcare rally with President Barack Obama in his home state, the New York Times reported Monday. 

The congressman, who has indicated that he is undecided on the reform vote, will instead attend a major infrastructure announcement, his spokeswoman told the Times, even though Strongsville is just outside his northeast Ohio district. 

Boccieri, a freshman Democrat, voted against the House's healthcare reform legislation in November, saying that it did not do enough to contain costs. 

The event the congressman is attending is a $16.6 million imrpovement at the Akron-Canton airport, which he says will create 60 jobs.

Obama's rally is taking place in the district of Rep. Dennis Kucinich (D-Ohio), a supporter of single-payer government-run healthcare who said the bill was too weak.

Representatives from nearby districts have attended Obama town hall events in the past. Last week, Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.), who represents the Philadelphia suburbs in New Jersey, showed at the president's town hall in Glenside, Pa. across the Delaware River.

Boccieri's spokeswoman has not responded to a request for comment.

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