2 Virginia Reps Vote Against Health Care Reform Bill

How did Virginia's 11 House of Representatives members vote on H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care of America Act?

Voting for H.R. 3962, the Affordable Health Care of America Act, fell largely down party lines for Virginia's representatives. Of Virginia's 11 Representatives, 7 voted against passage of the bill, while 4 voted for the H.R. 3962. Noteworthy to mention, however, is that two of Virginia's Democrats did break with their party and vote against the bill.

Listing of Virginia's House of Representatives members and how they voted:

Virginia's 1st District - Rob Wittman (R) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 2nd District - Glenn C. Nye, III (D) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 3rd District - Robert C. Scott (D) voted for the bill.

Virginia's 4th District - J. Randy Forbes (R) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 5th District - Tom Perriello (D) voted for the bill.

Virginia's 6th District - Bob Goodlatte (R) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 7th District - Eric Cantor (R) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 8th District - Jim Moran (D) voted for the bill.

Virginia's 9th District - Rick Boucher (D) voted against the bill

Virginia's 10th District - Frank Wolf (R) voted against the bill.

Virginia's 11th District - Gerald Connolly (D) voted for the bill.

Two Virginia Democrats break with their party and vote against H.R. 3962

Breaking with their party, part of the 39 No votes coming from Democratic members, were Rick Boucher of Virginia's 9th District and Glenn C. Nye, III of Virginia's 2nd District. Rep. Nye released a statement on his home page on November 7 stating that while the bill contained many of the goals that he would like to see as part of health care reform, the bill does not reduce the overall health care costs for families, small businesses or taxpayers. Also of concern was the possibility of funding being cut for Children's Hospital for the King's Daughters in Norfolk, a hospital that many military families rely on for care.

Also voting no on H.R. 3962 was Rick Boucher of Virginia's 9th District. Rep. Boucher released a statement on his home page explaining his opposition to the Affordable Health Care for America Act, citing the disparity of Medicare payments to rural doctors and hospital versus higher payments to more urban caregivers. Rep. Boucher did not feel that the bill addressed that issue adequately. He also fears for the viability of the hospitals in his District since a government option would mean less reimbursements to providers, who already lose money on Medicare/Medicaid patients. Private insurers, he asserts, help to keep non-profit hospitals afloat since their reimbursement rates are higher. A mass exodus from private plans to the government option would mean less money for hospitals, which could lead to closure or reduction in services. Rep. Boucher also feels that the bill was more or less one-sided with no real bi-partisan discussions while fashioning a plan to overhaul health care as we know it.

Sources:
House roll call vote: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2009/roll887.xml
http://nye.house.gov/index.cfm?sectionid=24§iontree=23,24&itemid=301
http://www.boucher.house.gov/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1870&Itemid=