McDonnell outlines opposition to Medicaid expansion

Gov. Bob McDonnell sent a letter on Wednesday to State Sen. Walter Stosch and Del. Lacey Putney outlining his firm opposition to any expansion of Medicaid absent sweeping reforms of the program at both the state and federal levels.

“Please understand that I cannot and will not support consideration of an expansion of Medicaid in Virginia until major reforms are authorized and completed, and until we receive guarantees that the federal government’s promises to the states can be kept without increasing the immoral national debt. To do so would be irresponsible and place crushing financial burdens on future governors and legislatures. The country is broke, and I will not support policies that make it worse,” McDonnell wrote in the letter.

The Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation is on board with the governor on the issue.

“Virginia should not be seduced by the lure of federal funds in the short-term to expand Medicaid, when Virginia taxpayers, businesses, and private health insurance premium payers will end up footing the bill for lesser quality health care for all,” said Mark Daugherty, chairman of the Virginia Tea Party Patriots Federation.  “Furthermore, the Governor and General Assembly members must understand the fallacy of ‘free money’ and ‘free health care’ and act accordingly by promoting free-market solutions and decreased dependency by all but the neediest Virginians. To do otherwise is to embrace legalized plunder.”

On the other side of the ledger, expanding Virginia’s Medicaid income guidelines to 133 percent of the Federal Poverty Level tops the AARP Virginia policy priority list.  The General Assembly is considering a budget amendment that would extend coverage to more needy Virginians.

“Currently, Virginia’s Medicaid program is one of the most restrictive in the nation,” said AARP Virginia State Director Bill Kallio. “Childless adults are not covered regardless of income.  Adults with children are covered with incomes up to 30 percent of poverty.”

Kallio said AARP encourages Virginia lawmakers to take advantage of the enhanced federal funding to provide coverage for approximately 400,000 additional individuals including 62,000 50- to 64-year-olds.