After months of contentious national debate on reform to various aspects of the health care system in America, a bill was approved by the House of Representatives last Saturday evening. The bill, HR 3962, is called the Affordable Health Care for America Act. The vote was 220 to 215, and Virginia Fifth District Representative Tom Perriello was an 'Aye.'

Perriello held 21 'Town Hall' meetings arouind the District during the summer, listening and answering constituents' concerns on all sides of the issue. In the buildup to the vote, there was pressure from those favoring the bill, those favoring a stronger bill, and those opposed. Much of the opposition to the Democratic legislation was coordinated by a lobbying group, Americans for Prosperity, and their local TEA (Taxed Enough Already) organizations. These groups were incited to shout down attempts at explanation or discussion of the issues at meetings around the U.S., but Perriello experienced little of this.

On Friday, November 6, with the vote scheduled for the following day, a rally was held at the District office in Charlottesville, to show support for a Yes vote from Perriello, and to demonstrate a commitment to support him following such a vote.

On Monday several groups held quickly-scheduled 'Thank you Tom' meetings at the office.

The opposition was quick to vilify the vote in harsh terms. Virginia Senator Bob Hurt, R-Chatham, a leading contender to oppose Perriello in next year's election [see full list of announced candidates, below], issued a statement critical of Perriello’s vote. He said that in the town hall meetings this summer "Central and Southside Virginians expressed opposition to a government takeover of health care." This writer attended one of those meetings, and has spoken with attendees at a number of others. My clear impression is that many, and possibly most, of the comments at these meetings endorsed significant change, and signs or comments opposing 'government takeover' were in a distinct minority.

In his statement, Hurt calls the bill “a devastating blow to our economy at just the wrong time." He continues, "With job losses continuing to mount, Congressman Perriello voted to raise taxes on small businesses. With seniors getting squeezed, he voted to slash Medicare benefits. With Virginians working harder for less, he voted to give taxpayer-funded health care benefits to illegal immigrants. Because of our congressman’s actions, one-sixth of our economy may be subject to government control....”

These comments follow the general outline of opposition voiced elsewhere, and are countered by Perriello in his statement (see box) and in more detail here.

Demostrations against the legislation and Perriello's vote, organized by TEA at the instigation of AFP, were held outside Perriello's District offices in Martinsville and then Danville Monday morning. According to Fifth District Regional Director Kimble Reynolds, there were some 75 to 100 people--some from the bus, some local--at each of these events. Speakers addressed the issues, the crowd was sedate, and each event lasted perhaps half an hour. The speaker explained the benefits of writing letters-to-the-editor (be polite, keep it short), and other speakers reinforced the central theme--too much government.

A Charlottesville demonstration against the legislation and against Perriello and his vote is planned for Tuesday, November 10, at 10:00 a.m. at the District Office, 313 Second Street SE. A counter demonstration is also planned. The concern of the counter-demonstrators is not just to diminish the impact of the Americans for Prosperity, but to start organizing to generate support throughout what will obviously be a long, difficult re-election campaign.

(Dave Sagarin, November 9, 2009)