Democrats respond to GOP on Medicaid expansion

In response to House Republicans’ release of a white paper arguing that Gov. Terry McAuliffe lacks the authority to close the coverage gap, Democratic leaders in the General Assembly issued the following statements:

Said Senate Caucus Chair Sen. Donald McEachin (D – Henrico), “Once again, House Republicans have put partisan ideology before the needs of Virginians. We have a chance to save hundreds of lives every year. House Republicans haven’t just ignored that chance — they’ve worked at every turn to thwart it. Good legal analysis examines a particular plan and then responds. The fact that Republicans are criticizing a plan that doesn’t even exist yet shows how desperate they really are.”

Said Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Dick Saslaw (D – Fairfax), “It comes as no surprise the House Republicans will go to any lengths to deny access to affordable health care to Virginians desperately in need.  We have one of the highest thresholds in the nation to keep people off Medicaid — and we have veterans, seniors and hard-working citizens caught in the coverage gap. Thanks to those same Republicans looking to build their case against the Governor’s authority, Virginians will continue to be denied life-saving health care. Where is Republicans’ plan to start serving the citizens they were elected to represent?”

Said House Caucus Chair Del. Mark Sickles (D – Fairfax), “Back in January, House Republicans promised a plan to close the coverage gap. They never delivered — and today, they’re actually making it harder to insure Virginia families. Today’s report is just one more partisan roadblock that keeps hundreds of thousands of hard-working Virginians from accessing the quality care that they need and deserve.”

Said House Democratic Leader Del. David Toscano (D – Charlottesville), “We could be bringing billions of our own federal tax dollars back to Virginia. Instead, we’re spending even more taxpayer money — some $25,000 — on House Republicans’ ideological crusade to stop Virginian families from accessing life-saving health care.”