GOP-Controlled Virginia House Votes Overwhelmingly FOR Medicaid Expansion; Senate GOP Votes Unanimously “Nay”

So much for the Virginia House of Delegates being the hyper-partisan, far-right chamber while the Virginia State Senate is supposedly the body of more “moderation.” At this point, it seems like the roles have been reversed, if anything. By the way, so much for Sen. Emmett Hanger (R) voting for Medicaid expansion (at least for now – he certainly could vote for it down the road, after conference committee hashes out differences, etc.). In the end, it seems to me that this is going to come down to Senate-House conference and some serious, intense, behind-the-scenes negotiations on work requirements for Medicaid recipients, who pays for the 10% Virginia is on the hook for, etc.  Then, we’ll see if any Senate Republicans are willing to defy Corey Stewart and the far right of their party DO what’s right for their constituents and for our state — expand Medicaid now!

Rollcall on Medicaid expansion amendments in House. Majority of Va House GOP opposed pic.twitter.com/E03Y2YDzIC

— Alan Suderman (@AlanSuderman) February 22, 2018

Senate GOP just unanimously rejected effort to add House Medicaid plan to budget. 21-19.

— Mark Obenshain (@MarkObenshain) February 22, 2018