Businessweek

UnitedHealth's relationship with Democratic Senator Mark R. Warner of Virginia illustrates the industry's subtle role. Elected last fall, Warner, a former governor of his state and a wealthy ex-businessman, received a choice assignment as the Senate Democrats' liaison to business. The rookie senator landed in the center of a high-visibility political drama—and in a position to earn the gratitude of a health insurance industry that has donated more than $19 million to federal candidates since 2007, 56% of which has gone to Democrats.

It seems that Mark Warner has come out against single payer. Virginia blogger martinlomasney quotes from a statement from the Senator:

Although I do not support a government-run single-payer health care system, [emphasis added] I believe we need comprehensive reform to achieve a competitive, cost-effective, and efficient system.

As readers of this blog know, Single Payer will save us $350 BILLION a year. So I hope that Virginians will ask Mark Warner what it is that insurance companies do that is worth $350 BILLION a year.