Senator Warner was described by the Washington Post last week as one of the "key lawmakers" who is pushing for health reform legislation that addresses the federal deficit:

With polls showing rising concern over the government's grim financial situation, key Republicans and a growing number of Democrats say it will be hard to push an ambitious health reform bill through Congress unless it reduces projected federal spending on medical care and begins to bring the national debt under control.

"It's not good enough that it's just paid for; it actually has to start driving long-term costs down," said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.), one of nine freshman Democrats who last month urged Senate leaders to pay more attention to controlling federal health spending in this era of "exploding debt and deficits."

"The status quo is going to bankrupt the federal government and bankrupt most American families," Warner said.

Senator Warner has focused on the need to cut costs and rein in federal health care spending.  As the article notes, Senator Warner signed a letter along with eight other freshman senators calling on Senate Finance Committee Chairman Max Baucus to continue bipartisan negotiations and focus on reform options that not only expand coverage but also help reduce our national debt.

For more on Senator Warner's views on cost controls, visit our Health Care Information & Resources page.