that McDonnell does not need to win. Really, I didn't think it would be that bad if he did, but this just changes a lot. If the provision gets into the HC bill that states can opt out of the option, then we might not be getting any reform here in VA if McDonnell wins. Same goes for the other states, the red ones mainly, that will have to suffer.

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Republican Robert F. McDonnell today held a brief town hall meeting at the Manassas offices of Micron Technology Inc., which employs about 1,600 people in Virginia. The Idaho-based semiconductor microchip manufacturer's political action committee has contributed at least $10,000 to McDonnell over the years and its CEO, Steve Appleton, delivered a warm introduction before McDonnell's remarks.

That's not to say McDonnell was handed softball questions. More than 100 employees gathered in a large conference room to hear McDonnell speak, among them Charles McClure, an electrician who delivered the hardball of the day: How, he asked, will you ensure that Virginians receive the same quality of health insurance you do as a public employee?

McDonnell was typically on message, though clearly less comfortable on this issue than the topics he has been talking about regularly on the trail, such as job creation and energy independence.

"Anywhere from 5 to 15 percent of Virginians don't have a bona fide insurance policy, and there are a lot of reasons for it. Some are illegal immigrants, some don't have insurance by choice, some have legitimate preexisting conditions and don't qualify," he said. "My opinion is that overall, people are generally satisfied with the doctor-patient relationship under our current system."

Noting that he believes the private sector, rather than the government, is best equipped to properly manage the system, he suggested that changes in federal and state law might allow small businesses that currently can't afford coverage for their employees to do so, and proposed expanding the practice of private health care spending accounts. He endorsed tort reform, rejected the idea of a health care mandate, and said there should be greater awareness of the state's system of free clinics.

McClure, a Democrat and supporter of McDonnell's opponent, R. Creigh Deeds, was not impressed.

"I think he danced around the question," he said after the forum. "My question was, is he going to actively pursue improving the quality of health care for the people of Virginia? He didn't say one way or the other."



McDonnell grilled on health care - Virginia Politics -


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Him on Fox News the other day....


Republican Bob McDonnell criticized the health care package being written on Capitol Hill in a live interview today on Your World with Neil Cavuto on FOX News.

"I know our voters are telling us that they're concerned,'' McDonnell said. "While they think it's legitimate to address the cost and access to health care, turning over the greatest medical system in the world to the federal government is probably not a good idea."

McDonnell said Virginians are worried about increased costs, decreased choices and a interruption in the doctor-patient relationship.

Cavuto said Democrat Creigh Deeds was invited to appear on the show, but that he never heard back from Deeds' campaign. This is the third time in recent weeks that McDonnell has appeared on national TV alone with Deeds either declining or not responding to a interview request.

McDonnell said he supports a 72-hour window that would allow citizens and lawmakers more time to read massive bills, such as those involving healthcare.

"There's been some disappointments, certainly from Virginians, with the many bills that have come out of the United States Congress that are 1,000 pages plus that don't appear to be fully read or comprehended prior to the vote."

Cavuto asked McDonnell if federal issues are playing out in the Virginia governor's race.

"I've made an issue in my race about some of the things we do see coming out of the United States Congress -- cap-and-trade, card check, unfunded mandates, major new deficient spending,'' McDonnell said. "These are things that voters all over Virginia have told me they're concerned about. I've pushed my opponent on it. He's either ambivelent or for all those reforms. I've been steadfastly against them...It has been an issue in the race and I think it's one that's actually helping me with the independent voters in Virginia."

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