Posted on 06/20/2014 10:36:08 AM PDT by Cincinatus' Wife
irginia Governor Terry McAuliffe (D) on Friday said he would sign the state’s two-year budget but veto an amendment that would prevent him from expanding Medicaid under ObamaCare.
McAuliffe plans to move forward with an expansion of Medicaid in his state under the new healthcare law. He also will scrap a proposed legislative commission on Medicaid reform, according to the Richmond Times-Dispatch.
The Virginia Democrat has ordered Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel to propose a Medicaid expansion plan by Sept. 1.
McAuliffe promised he would expand Medicaid when he was running for governor.
“We have the right to help people and do the right thing, this isn’t about politics,” he said at a Friday press conference. “When I think of these people I go to bed every night with a pit in my stomach…we’re going to get this done.”
McAuliffe has sought to win legislative approval of Medicaid’s expansion by including language broadening the program as part of a budget bill.
But when Republicans unexpectedly took back control of the Virginia Senate after a Democratic resignation, they moved a budget that did not include a Medicaid expansion.
Republicans argue expanding Medicaid will end up costing too much for Virginians. Although the federal government has pledged to pick up most of the costs, they say the federal government can’t be trusted to do so.
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia have expanded Medicaid under ObamaCare.
The expansion has been controversial in many states, with a number of Republican governors refusing to accept federal money to expand the program.
Some where’s the money going to come from, Governor McAwful, if the legislature refuses to appropriate it?
Someone needs to tell this clown he’s not President. Lot easier to recall than impeach.
One question the republicans in the house should be asking the media:
“If McCauliffe truly believed he could simply expand medicaid on his own, why did he threaten to put teachers out of work to force the legislators to pass a bill? Why did he wait until September if he and his supporters argue that it is unethical to not do this right away”?
Unfortunately, at least at first, the U.S government covers 100% of the cost, so there is actually no expense. And we might even save a little money because the plan will cover some who currently use state plans.
Nobody has ever tried to use the Virginia recall statute against a state official.
The law says it applies to all officers whose removal is not already covered by the constitution.
Since the constitution has impeachment for the Governor, there is some question whether recall could work.
Also, in Virginia, recall is a legal proceeding, the people petition, and if the petition is successful, there is an actual trial.
Unfortunately, the state (the people asking for recall) would be represented by the Attorney General. Who is a political hack who wouldn’t even defend our CONSTITUTION in court, so you can imagine how he’d deal with a recall of his Governor. Remember the AG just issued an “opinion” that Terri could do this, based on nothing.
Crap, thought since they tried to recall Governor Walker it might work. Guess different states, different rules.
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