Sen. Webb: Suspend All Healthcare Votes

Sen. Jim Webb, D-Va., released a statement late Tuesday evening acknowledging that the only way for Congress to begin to regain its credibility with the American people is to suspend all consideration of healthcare until Sen.-elect Scott Brown of Massachusetts can be seated.

Earlier, Democrats had openly discussed delaying its certification of Brown's election, to give the Obama administration time to strong-arm a healthcare compromise through the Senate.

Webb's statement, and the scope of Brown's win over Democrat Martha Coakley, would appear to make it highly unlikely that such foot-dragging would be tolerated even by Senate Democrats.

Webb's statement:

“I congratulate Scott Brown on his victory, and I look forward to working with him in the United States Senate.

“In many ways the campaign in Massachusetts became a referendum not only on healthcare reform but also on the openness and integrity of our government process. 

"It is vital that we restore the respect of the American people in our system of government and in our leaders. To that end, I believe it would only be fair and prudent that we suspend further votes on healthcare legislation until Senator-elect Brown is seated.”