AFP Focus | Perriello still ‘undecided’ on health-care reform
Fifth District Congressman Tom Perriello has moved from “no” to “undecided” on the proposed health-care reform making its way around Capitol Hill.
“I think we’re moving in the right direction, but I’m not committed yet,” the Democrat told reporters on a conference call Friday morning in which he discussed the 1,900-page bill that is expected to come up for a vote in the House of Representatives next week.
Perriello is among a group of freshmen Democrats in the House who have pushed House leaders to bring down the costs of the reform package and to insert Republican-backed provisions on interstate competition and medical-malpractice reform into the final legislation.
“In July, leadership was trying to shove a bill through very, very quickly, and some of us said, We need to take the time to hear from our constituents in August, we need to take the time to get the best ideas on the table. I’m really proud of the fact that we were able to stop that vote in July, take our time, slow down. I think we have a much, much stronger reform proposal because of it,” Perriello said.
Even so, Perriello still lists himself among the undecided.
“I think we’ve made huge strides in the right direction, and I think we continue to see momentum in the right direction for health-care reform, though there are still some questions out there,” Perriello said.
“I want to take the weekend to look at all 1,900 pages of it and make sure that I have a chance to get at all the details and also look at some specific areas where I haven’t seen as much progress as I would have liked, such as interstate competition,” Perriello said.
- Story by Chris Graham
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[...] Yet, his modus operandi has been to throw a little “red meat” to conservatives by saying that he won’t back a bill that publicly funds abortion or that adds to the federal deficit, and that he remains “undecided.” [...]
Press Release-Tea Party groups in Virginia’s 5th District blast Perriello for his flip-flop on the health care plan
DANVILLE, Va. (Oct. 30) – Leaders of the four major tea party organizations in the 5th Congressional District blasted Congressman Tom Perriello for his flip-flop this morning on the health care proposal before Congress.
Even though he had promised Pastor Michael Harrison of Collinsville three days ago that he was voting against the health care plan if it included abortion funding and because of its high cost, Perriello today told reporters he was now undecided. The tea party leaders are in Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Martinsville and Danville, representing several thousand registered voters.
“I’m not surprised that Perriello is wavering on what he’s going to do on the health care bill, by saying one thing one day and something the next, depending on his audience. He always agrees in principle with our positions at first, but when it comes to voting, he finds a clever way to change his mind,” said Bill Hay, founder and chairman of the Jefferson Area Tea Party in Charlottesville.
“I suspect he’ll vote for the health care plan because ultimately he owes Nancy Pelosi, George Goros and the DNC for all the support they have given him. He wants their support in the future; if he doesn’t support their bill, it’ll be a problem for him,” Hay added.
Mark Lloyd, a leader of the Lynchburg Tea Party, said he also wasn’t surprised to see Periello changing his mind. “He’s been doing this all along, and voters need to watch carefully.”
Nigel Coleman, founder of the Danville TEA Party Patriots, said, “I have been saying all along that no issue is going to define Perriello
like his vote on the health care plan. His flip-flopping is showing him to be an unreliable representative of the 5th District. He’s knows
how ordinary people feel in his district and he should represent us, not New York.”
A.C. Wilson, a leader of the Martinsville Tea Party, said “Congressman Periello clearly understands the will of the people in his district. If he votes for any plan with abortion funding, we will be deeply disappointed.”
Tom is not flip flopping. He is using his potential vote to make changes in the bill. Changes that will make it better for the 5th district and America. He’s working hard and doing a great job.
please vote no on health care bill
VOTE NO
Perriello is yet another liberal lawyer who never had any serious intention of voting agains’t the healthcare monstrostity. He had the same modus operandi when he voted for the tax and trade bill. Yet another dreamed up crisis when there is none to allow more goverment control of us little peasants. Perriello is disingenuous and WILL ALWAYS be the good little liberal for Madam Pelosi and her likes. IF socialized medicine passes and IF the tax and trade bill passes American will then truly see hard times. It will make all of us yearn for the good old Obama days of only 10% unemployment