Tell Jim Webb – Don’t Be Reid’s 60th Vote
Take ActionDon’t let Sen. Jim Webb be Harry Reid’s 60th vote
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In April, Senator Jim Webb Was One Of A Group Of 16 Senators To Sign A Letter Indicating Support For A Public Option. “Sen. Jim Webb also likes the idea of a competitive public plan because it may be the only way to cover the more than 47 million Americans without health insurance. ‘There is no reason to believe that private insurers alone will meet the public purpose of ensuring coverage for all Americans at an affordable price for taxpayers,’ Webb and 15 other senators wrote in an April letter urging that a public option be approved.” (Bill Bartel, “Overhauling Health Care: Where They Stand,” The Virginian-Pilot, 6/27/09)
In August, Webb Said Congress Should Slow Down The Health Care Debate. “‘My thought right now is to slow this down,’ the Virginia Democrat said. ‘Open it up. Have some hearings. Let people get their different viewpoints out in a very public way.’” (Bill Bartel, “Sen. Jim Webb Says Health Care Debate Has Overheated,” The Virginian Pilot, 8/28/09)
Webb Said He Did Not Need A “Town Hall Meeting And Have A Thousand People Screaming To Say That We’ve Been Able To Listen To Them.” “Webb has not scheduled any town hall gatherings with constituents to discuss health care because he doesn’t believe they’re necessary. ‘We listen constantly. I don’t need to go to a town hall meeting and have a thousand people screaming to say that we’ve been able to listen to them,’ he said. ‘We’ve responded to 34,000 pieces of mail and e-mail in our office on this issue.’” (Bill Bartel, “Webb Says Health Care Debate Has Overheated,” The Virginian-Pilot Edition, 8/28/09)
Webb Said “It Is Important To Safeguard Access To Medicare And Protect The Program’s Fiscal Sustainability.” “During my time in the U.S. Senate, I have supported numerous initiatives to help protect Medicare… As Congress considers health care reform, I believe it is important to safeguard access to Medicare and protect the program’s fiscal sustainability.” (Sen. Jim Webb, “Ensuring Access To Health Care,” Press Release, 2009)
In November, Webb Voted For Cloture, Allowing The Debate On The Reid-Obama Government-Run Health Care Bill To Proceed. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #353: Motion agreed to 60-39: D 58-0; R 0-39; I 2-0, 11/21/09, Webb Voted Yea)
Webb Voted With Republicans For Senator John McCain’s Motion To Prevent $440.5 Billion In Cuts From Medicare Programs. “McCain, R-Ariz., motion to commit the bill to the Finance Committee with instructions that it be reported back after striking provisions that would cut $440.5 billion from Medicare programs, including $118.1 billion from Medicare Advantage and $150 billion in provider cuts. It would also state that savings in the bill to certain federal insurance trust funds be used to strengthen Medicare.” (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote # 358: Motion rejected 42-58: D 2-56; R 40-0, 12/3/09, Webb Voted Yea)
Webb Voted With Republicans For A Motion To Commit The Health Care Bill To The Finance Committee With Instructions That It Be Reported Back Without The $42.1 Billion In Cuts To Payments To Home Health Agencies. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #364: Motion rejected by a vote of 41-53: R 37-0; D 4-52; I 0-1, 12/5/09, Webb Voted Yea)
In Early December, “Sen. Webb Also Spoke To Reporters About The Healthcare Debate Going On At The Capital. . . . ‘I’ve Taken Some Pretty Hard Votes. I’ve Been Doing What I Can To Shape The Bill, And Then Voting My Conscience On All These Votes. We’ll See What It Looks Like In The End.’” (Rob Cardwell, “Sen. Jim Webb In Richmond Talks About Health Care, Flag Dispute,” CBS 6 News, 12/7/09)
Webb Voted Against The Nelson Amendment That Restricted Taxpayer-Funded Abortion In The Health Care Reform Bill. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #369: Motion agreed to 54-45: R 2-38; D 50-7; I 2-0, 12/8/09, Webb Voted Nay)
Webb Said He Is “Rather Skeptical” That The Proposed Medicare Cuts Are “Sustainable.” “In an interview, Webb said he’s ‘rather skeptical that those cuts [to Medicare] are sustainable,’ given the increasing number of people from the baby boom generation eligible for the entitlement program. He also said Medicare Advantage programs have improved services in rural parts of Virginia.” (Manu Raju, “Can Republicans ‘Smoke Out’ Jim Webb?,” Politico, 12/14/09)
Webb Said “I’m Voting My Conscience” And That He Has “A Lot Of Concerns About Medicare.” “I’m voting my conscience, which Harry Reid wants all of us to do,’ Webb said. ‘I have a lot of concerns about Medicare. I think it’s important to express those views on these votes.’” (Manu Raju, “Can Republicans ‘Smoke Out’ Jim Webb?,” Politico, 12/14/09)
As Of Mid-December, Webb Had Not Ruled Out Opposing The Health Care Reform Bill. “But the amendments to restore the proposed cuts failed on the floor — meaning that whatever bill emerges in the end may very well include the Medicare cuts that worry Webb. Asked if that meant he might oppose the underlying bill, Webb said: ‘I’ll see what the bill looks like when we get to the end of it.’” (Manu Raju, “Can Republicans ‘Smoke Out’ Jim Webb?,” Politico, 12/14/09)
Webb Voted Against The Crapo Motion To Commit The Health Care Bill To The Finance Committee With Instructions That It Be Reported Back With Changes That Would Prohibit Provisions Of The Measure From Resulting In A Federal Tax Increase For Individuals Making Less Than $200,000 And Married Individuals Making Less Than $250,000. (H.R. 3590, CQ Vote #376: Motion rejected by a vote of 45-54: R 40-0; D 5-52; I 0-2, 12/15/09, Webb Voted Nay)