Before a crowd of more than 1,800, Senator Warner outlined his three principles for health care reform during a town hall meeting last night in Fredericksburg:

"Number one, it cannot add to the federal deficit.  Number two, we have to start driving the cost of health care down, for all Americans, all across the board.  And number three, ... change the financial incentives we have in our health care system."

You can watch the entire town hall here.  Here's the report by NBC 12 in Richmond:

Senator Warner answered questions from passionate advocates on all sides of the debate at the Fredericksburg Expo Center.  He began the evening with a PowerPoint presentation entitled "The State of Health Care in 2009," setting the scene for why we need reform.  

According to Fredericksburg's Free-Lance Star:

Warner began the meeting with slides that showed medical spending statistics. He said that if nothing is done, spending on health care by individuals, companies and government will keep growing, and that such costs make it difficult for the United States and American businesses to compete with businesses in countries where health costs are less.

"We may disagree on what reform ought to look like," Warner said. "I probably don't agree entirely with either side."

Norfolk's Virginian-Pilot was also there:

Warner began the forum by reminding his audience that regardless of how they felt about the health care proposals being debated, there are certain indisputable facts. Among them, he said, is that if Congress does nothing about health care costs, all Americans will pay dramatically more in the near future and the federal deficit will "explode" because of the rising cost of Medicare and Medicaid.

The senator restated his objection to setting up a government health care plan to compete with private insurers. He stressed, however, that for health care costs to come down, there has to be considerably more competition.

Before the questioning began, Senator Warner urged participants to turn the volume down and encouraged a civil discussion.  Per the AP:

Warner attempted to head off some of the rhetorical battles when he began talking, noting to the crowd that national media were on hand and reminding them that Americans should be civil, despite their views.

"Not only are we Americans, we are Virginians," Warner said. "We treat each other with respect."

The Free-Lance Star gives a summary of the types of questions that were asked:

One questioner asked Warner where the Constitution gives the government the right to meddle in health care. Warner said it doesn't, and that also doesn't provide for government-provided education or transportation, but that the American people over the years have chosen to have government involved in those things.

At least two questioners urged Warner to support tort reform, which he said he does. Others had questions about Medicare's drug coverage and prescription costs in general.

Warner at one point asked people to raise their hands if they're on Medicare.

"You know, folks, that's a government program," he said, a statement which also earned some boos.

One woman asked Warner why there hasn't been more bipartisanship in working on reform bills. Warner said the number of Republicans willing to negotiate on the issue "keeps dropping off."

If you missed it, you can rewatch the entire town hall here.  Check out the images from the town hall below.  Photos above courtesy Doug Graham/Roll Call.