Democrat: Suspend health care reform until Brown is seated
[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2009/POLITICS/08/15/senator.visits.myanmar/art.myanmar.webb.afp.gi.jpg caption="Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia said it would be 'fair and prudent' to suspend health care reform legislation."]Washington (CNN) - A moderate Democratic senator is calling on his colleagues to shelve health care reform legislation until Massachusetts Republican Scott Brown takes his seat in the United States Senate.
"In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on health care reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process, Sen. Jim Webb of Virginia said in a statement Tuesday after Brown defeated Democrat Martha Coakley in the special election for the late Sen. Edward Kennedy's seat.
"It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on health care legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated."
A politician I can agree with...Wow, it's been a while. 🙂
I anticipate you'll be defeated for this if health care isn't passed over the next month, Mr. Web.
The biased anchors/reporters should be glad their agenda has been pushed ahead. They were like dogs in their aggressiveness and bias in covering this election. The logical, intelligent public always understand this. Now, since there is some type of "balance of power" - which Americans prefer - they can feel better. However, there are millions who have not been wrapped up in the Tea Party anger, hype, and irrationality. Those "squeaky wheels" had their day. Journalists, It's time to stop the speculation. It's now time that the "selfish" realize that the majority of this country wants healthcare, and there will be a movement as big as the Civil Rights movement if it is not given the proper attention. We are America. ...And we are tired of what has been happening.
Well said. I couldn't agree more! We must restore openness in Congress and have fair debate, not railroading bills through with an agenda and leaving the American public out.
Jim Webb is one of the few democrats who has any sense at all. Or maybe he's just not corrupted as so many of our left wing congress people are. But he's also being pragmatic. The American people are obviously on verge of throwing out a massive number of these scoundrels and right now the smartest thing any of them can do is distance themselves from the shenanigans and back room dealings and arm twisting of Pelosi and Reid. It's a survival strategy.
Senator Webb, you're the ONLY sane person among Democrats in the US senate; thank you!
Can you convince Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid especially Obama? Those three are BUSY LIKE A BEE destroying our party. They look like MONSTERS to me, I'm very disappointed with them.
The Republicans have disregarded respecting anything but themselves for years
Go kiss the Butt of your masters Webb
This is a Dem that wants to keep his job.....good for him!!!
I love ya Jim but if we do we will never get reformed health care !
How magnanamous of you with your please e re-elect me I not so much an idiot as the rest of the demoncrats.
I am a Virginian. Jim Webb was elected quite by accident and like his counterpart Mark Warner is totally out-of-touch with his constituents. He refused to hold town hall meetings (like Warner) and is nothing more than a political opportunist who deserted the Republican party. I pray Virginians vote him out in 2012. Take nothing he says seriously. What you see tonight is he is in deep trouble in Virginia and he knows it.
Bravo. Hopefully Reid will listen. Otherwise Webb should be that 41st vote till he is seated.
What? A Democrat that actually LISTENS to the people instead of passing the blame?
This Democrat and those in Massachusetts agree with Jim Webb.......
Senator Brown should be seated just as swiftly as Senator Kennedy has in the past.
Quite a surprise coming from Jim Webb. One of the few times he has actually said something that makes sense. If the Dems try to push a vote on Health Care before they seat Brown it would be a major injustice and yet another example of the "Beltway Elite" disregarding what the people want and pushing their liberal agenda upon America.
Very good idea. Lets get this process open to ALL like it was originally promised.
In other words ,what he is saying is that we[ democrats] need to hold this health care fiasco off a bit before we all lose our seats too .Ecspecially those of us who dont have a golden parachute yet.We can sneak this in when no one is looking, or at least hold off till some of us get our tenure benefits.
as an independent voter, i like to see this attitude from a democrat: honest and humble. good to see. well done sen. webb
Shelving health care reform would be the correct thing to do until Scott Brown gets to DC. If it isn't shelved, then the message will be clear, this is not a government of the people.
Congratulations Sen Jim Webb for recognizing what is the right thing to do.
looks like some Dems are a little worried come November...... better start backing away from Obama now and save your necks
I disagree with the congressman because of this: the Democrats have already been given control of the government in popular vote by the country as a whole. I'm sorry, but it ain't all about Massachusetts.
Words are cheap. How will he vote after he's offered a sweetheart deal?
now there is a novel idea, transparency and some honesty in this process... let's see how far that gets Sen. Webb
Why is it so hard for Democrats to wrap their brains around this: in Massacusetts we already have good health care and we don't want to pay for whatever legislation the feds want to shove down our throats.
If the Democrats really want better health care for the masses
why aren't they screaming at their own respective state legislatures?
I'm tired of hearing the moans and groans from people in those states who have no decent health care – especially those from states with no income tax. Quit bellyaching, dig into your own pockets, and force the issue in your own state capitals.
As a United States Marine, I am proud of former Marine Officer Senator James Webb who has presented a professional and constructive approach that will hopefully lead to effective and open debate that will result in health care reform that the citizens of this nation trust and will embrace. Well done, Senator Webb! Although I consider myself a Republican, I can honestly say there is no doubt about your integrity and you have my full trust, sir. Please convey to the rest of the Senators and Representatives from both parties that transparency and integrity along with tenacity and determination are qualities that we Americans value so much in our elected officials.