Two Virginia Democrats vote against health bill

By: Andrew Cain | Richmond Times-Dispatch
Published: November 08, 2009

Two of the six Democrats in Virginia's congressional delegation last night voted against President Barack Obama's 10-year, $1.2 trillion health-care reform plan.

Reps. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, and Rick Boucher, D-9th, were the only Virginia lawmakers to break ranks with their parties.

Nye, who serves Hampton Roads, said in a statement that the bill does not sufficiently cut health-care costs that are harming families and small businesses.

"Although this version of the bill takes important steps to lower the deficit in the short term, the [Congressional Budget Office] has said that it does not address the fundamental problem of reducing skyrocketing health-care costs," Nye said.

Boucher, in his 14th term serving Southwest Virginia, gave the briefest of floor statements, saying: "I rise in opposition." He requested permission to revise and extend his remarks in the written record.

Democrats Robert. C. Scott, D-3rd, Tom Perriello, D-5th, James P. Moran, D-8th and Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, backed the measure.

All five Virginia Republicans voted against the bill. They are Reps. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st, J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, Robert W. Goodlatte, R-6th, Eric I. Cantor, R-7th, and Frank R. Wolf, R-10th.

In the run-up to the vote, Nye, Perriello, Connolly and Boucher received particular scrutiny. All four Democrats represent districts that on Tuesday backed Republican Bob McDonnell for governor.

"Whether for or against health-care reform, most people in the district asked me to fight for deficit reduction, a fair shake for rural doctors, and no federal funding for abortions," Perriello said in a statement his staff issued at 11:18 p.m., just after the vote. "I helped to score major victories on all three fronts."

Nye, Perriello and Connolly were first elected in November 2008, when Obama became the first Democratic presidential candidate to carry Virginia since 1964. All three won seats that had been held by Republicans.

In a brief floor speech, Perriello said: "I recognize the good things this bill does to make health care more affordable for families and expand access to preventative and wellness care."

He sought a clarification from Rep. Henry A. Waxman, D-Calif., chairman of the Committee on Energy and Commerce. Waxman assured him that maternity care is a required benefit of individual and employer insurance plans under the bill.

In his floor speech yesterday morning announcing his support, Connolly called passage of health-care reform a "transformative moment to make America a better place."

Wittman said in a statement that in voting against the bill, "I brought the message from my constituents directly to Congress."

Cantor, the No. 2 Republican in the House, said during a news conference earlier yesterday that he expected some Democrats to vote with the GOP.

"Many members on both sides of the aisle are listening to the voters who spoke last Tuesday in Virginia, New Jersey and across this country in state and local elections," he said.

"The message was simple. People have a grave concern about what Washington is doing to them, not for them."

Wolf got to the point in announcing his opposition. "Our nation is going broke," he said.

Contact Andrew Cain at (804) 649-6780 or acain@timesdispatch.com.