Virginia congressional delegation split as health-care vote nears

As the latest version of President Barack Obama's health-care reform package nears a vote in Congress, Virginia's five House Republicans are uniformly against the proposal, while the state's six Democrats, perhaps wary of midterm elections this fall, appear less united in support of the bill.

Virginia Democrats have expressed concerns about the Senate bill making its way through the House, raising objections to its impact on Medicare and rural health-care providers and to deal-making with other states.

Freshman Rep. Gerald E. Connolly, D-11th, still is undecided until he sees the final version of the legislation, which is expected to come before the full House for a vote as early as this weekend.

"It's hard to talk about fixes until he's seen what those fixes are," spokesman George Burke said. "Until then, he's certainly keeping his options open."

The offices of Rep. Glenn Nye, D-2nd, and Rep. Rick Boucher, D-9th, would not comment after repeated inquiries yesterday from the Richmond Times-Dispatch, though Boucher's recent comments suggest he could repeat the "no" vote he cast on the health-care legislation in November.

Boucher told the Martinsville Bulletin that he also wanted to see the final version of the bill, and he promised to make a decision "consistent with my district" and not necessarily his political party.

Nye voted last fall against Obama's health-care bill. According to the Washington publication The Hill, he wrote the following in a recent letter to constituents:

"If the bill that is put forth does not contain significant changes and does not actually reduce health-care costs for Americans and small businesses, it will not have my support."

And Rep. Tom Perriello, D-5th, who faces a stiff Republican challenge this fall and supported Obama in the November House vote, still is on the fence but perhaps leaning toward another yes vote.

"I have plenty of serious problems with the Senate bill and, until I see the final language, I cannot take a position on final passage," Perriello said in a statement.

"But the existing language on abortion in the current Senate bill meets the pledge I made to ensure no federal funding for abortion in this health-care bill."

As the vote approaches, Virginia Republicans, led by House Minority Whip Eric Cantor, R-7th, are turning up the heat on Democrats.

Jim McKelvey, one of a host of Republicans hoping to challenge Perriello this fall, issued a one-sentence statement yesterday daring the freshman congressman to vote yes: "Go ahead, make my day!"

Cantor this week took to the floor of the House to urge Speaker Nancy Pelosi to "start over" rather than try to "ram this through" for a vote.

"There's been a year and a half nearly of debate over this and still more questions than answers," Cantor said.

The rest of Virginia's GOP delegation expressed similar dissatisfaction with the process and said the package under consideration would increase health-care costs.

"I'm sorry to say that the effort to craft a final bill has been done behind closed doors, without transparency, and without the input of Republicans and the American public," said Rep. Robert J. Wittman, R-1st.

"I cannot in good conscience support a bill which adds trillions of dollars to our federal deficit, places burdens on struggling small businesses, and increases the cost of health care."

Rep. Robert W. Goodlatte, R-6th, said the bill is "nothing more than the same government-run insurance, mandates and taxes the American people have overwhelmingly rejected."

Rep. Frank R. Wolf, R-10th, said the U.S. does not need another "entitlement program" that takes away from Medicare.

"The majority of Americans want responsible health-care reform that truly lowers the cost of insurance premiums without adding to the deficit or making significant cuts," he said.

Rep. J. Randy Forbes, R-4th, reiterated his opposition to the current health-care bill "and any other proposal that would take away choices, threaten private health insurance, and create federal bureaucracies to force millions of Americans into a government-run exchange program."

The Virginia General Assembly this year passed legislation that says Virginians cannot be compelled to purchase health insurance -- a pre-emptory move against any federal mandate.

But for all the opposition, the president has steadfast Democratic support from at least two of Virginia's congressional districts.

"The legislation we'll pass this week will help control costs, reduce deficits, and deal with pre-existing conditions," said Rep. Robert C. Scott, D-3rd. "We're on the verge of every American being able to get health insurance."

For Rep. James P. Moran, D-8th, it's more than politics and policy. It's personal.

"Having had a young child diagnosed with cancer, I am deeply aware of what's at stake in the debate between action and inaction," he said.

"It's the difference between finding the tumor and discovering it when it's too late to save your daughter's life. No less than the lives of millions of America's uninsured children and families are at stake."

Contact Jim Nolan at (804) 649-6061 or jnolan@timesdispatch.com.