Virginia's Governor Is Considering Expanding Medicaid Without Republicans

[DonViejo]

Source: The Wire

There are two things standing in the way of Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe's plan to possibly expand Medicaid to 400,000 Virginians without the legislature's permission: he's not completely sure it's legal, and Republicans will hate him even if it is. At the very least, he's looking at a lawsuit.

The Washington Post's Laura Vozzella reports Friday that McAuliffe's brand new administration — he's barely passed the 100 day mark — is looking into ways to expand Medicaid in the state administratively, after receiving fierce pushback from Republicans in the state legislature. This comes just one day after he told WTOP that he wants to expand through legislation. “Everybody says that," McAuliffe said when asked about taking executive action. "I’d like them to tell me and all my lawyers exactly how we do that.”

Unlike other governors who found legislative loopholes to approve the expansion, McAuliffe's legal authority in the matter has been described as a "gray area." What's more certain is the politically toxic environment he'd find himself in after strong arming the expansion through. "If a governor felt that strongly about it and just proposed to do it, I suppose the only way to stop him would be a lawsuit," state Sen. Emmett W. Hanger Jr., a Republican who supports the expansion, told the Post. "But it would be quick in coming.”

McAuliffe and the legislature have been debating over a plan to expand Medicaid, and neither side will pass the state's two-year budget unless they have their way. In March the governor proposed a two-year pilot program that could have been shutdown, according to Reuters. The plan would have used federal funds to buy private insurance, similar to Arkansas's private option. The state's Republican-led House Appropriations Committee rejected the deal, arguing that the federal government can't afford to pay the Medicaid bill it's promising, and that the state should deal with the current costs in the program. Also, it's not popular to take away insurance once it's been given.

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Read more: http://www.thewire.com/politics/2014/05/virginias-governor-is-considering-expanding-medicaid-without-republicans/361582/

[Iliyah]

1. GOD forgive them for they do not know what they do . . .

GOPers - "Death Panels"

[Scuba]

2. Republicans already hate him, so ignore that part.

[spooky3]

6. Yes. It's already a "toxic environment" thanks to the thugs. So there is nothing to lose on that

point.

I hope his lawyers can find loopholes.

[Jackpine Radical]

3. Too bad he can't leave them out of it entirely.

Considering that the RW is overpopulated by overweight, sedentary old white males, "losing" thatr demographic oughtta really bring the costs down for veryone else.

[PatrickforO]

4. "Damn the torpedoes! Full speed ahead!"

If McAuliffe has the political courage to take the action and then the hateful Republicans sue to take it away again, they will pay at the polls. When people who have been uninsured finally get insurance, McAuliffe will make a lot of new friends, and by suing the GOP will lose lots of friends, particularly those 'low information' people who are grateful to now have healthcare courtesy of the government. They historically have voted against their own interest, maybe because of constant propaganda from the right wing noise machine, but healthcare is a big deal.

[spooky3]

7. Welcome to DU! And let's hope that some who tend not to vote will be

motivated to do so by getting insurance for the first time.

I think he's got the courage but needs the lawyers to find a technical way for him to do this without the legislature.

[Old Codger]

5. I believe

It was FDR who said "I welcome their hate" bring it on..

[FSogol]

8. K&R. Make it so, Governor McAuliffe.

[Cha]

9. Good Luck Gov McAuliffe! thanks DV