Small-business owners protest at senators’ Richmond offices

Sen. Mark R. Warner, D-Alexandria, got an earful on health-care reform from a group of small-business owners Friday while protesters rallied outside Warner and Sen. Jim Webb’s Richmond offices.

About 100 people, at both locations combined, said they oppose proposed health-care reform, a version of which recently passed the House of Representatives by a narrow margin. The Senate’s version is facing an important test vote today with a must-pass procedural measure allowing debate to proceed.

The full Senate will have a chance to amend the bill once it’s on the floor.

In the meeting with Warner organized by the Virginia Retail Federation, John D. Whitlock, chairman of The Whitlock Group, urged Warner to vote against moving the bill forward, not to mention the legislation itself.

Warner, who said he wants to see more cost containment in the Senate’s legislation before he can support it, responded that he hasn’t committed to vote for the bill. “If it doesn’t improve, chances are I’m not going to vote for it,” he said.

But he added that he’s spent 20 years working on health care, including in his role as a governor and now senator. He stressed the costs of inaction.

“You guys hired me. At the end of the day, if I don’t perform, don’t rehire me. You’ll have that chance to make the judgment,” Warner said. “I think the choice of doing nothing is a financial disaster.”

“If it doesn’t get to the point where it crosses the threshold that I can look you in the eye and say, ‘I think this is better than the status quo,’ then I won’t vote for it,” he added.

The protesters were not in a mood to rehire Warner, or Webb, D-Arlington.

“We’re here to let them know they will be fired,” said Robert Mackay of Mechanicsville. “I was a Communist when I was much younger and it doesn’t work.”

Richmond policemen stood outside the two offices to make sure nothing got out of hand.

Neither senator was present, although Warner was in Richmond earlier in the day for the meeting in Carytown.

Three protesters were admitted to Warner’s office on the sixth floor, but the staff later sent someone down to Main Street to find out what their positions are. Webb’s staff met with groups of the people in his tiny, storefront office.

The protesters waved anti- health-care signs and American flags.

Bill Baker of Chester carried a suitcase. “Vote No on Health Care Reform or Pack Your Bags,” his sign read.

The protest was organized by Tertium Quid and Richmond Liberty Alliance.