11th District Republicans adopt resolution opposing Medicaid expansion

The 11th district Republican Committee adopted the resolution below opposing Medicaid expansion.  The vote was 7-2-1. Voting against the bill were the College Republican representative and Stephen Spiker.  No surprise there.

Resolution Recommending Retention of Medicaid Focus on the Most Medically Vulnerable Virginians and Commending Virginia Lawmakers for Fiscally Responsible Opposition to Medicaid Expansion

Whereas, the creed adopted and embraced by the Republican Party of Virginia acknowledges “That the free enterprise system is the most productive supplier of human needs and economic justice;” and

Whereas, this creed further states “That fiscal responsibility and budgetary restraints must be exercised at all levels of government;” and

Whereas, Virginia’s liberal Democratic Governor Ralph Northam made Medicaid expansion a cornerstone of his campaign, without regard to the long-term fiscal soundness of this program or its budgetary impact; and

Whereas, Medicaid expansion dilutes the program’s intended focus on providing care for the elderly, the disabled, low-income pregnant women, and low-income children, and

Whereas, the budget submitted by Governor Northam called for expansion of Medicaid at a projected annual expense of about $2,000,000,000; and

Whereas, such expansion has increased costs more than expected in other states and, according to a government alert, has led to increases in waste, fraud, and abuse; and

Whereas, the federal promise of 90% matching funds to offset state expenses for Medicaid expansion under the so-called Affordable Care Act is not currently funded by Congress and is unreliable over the long-term;

Whereas, research from the Mercatus Center at Virginia’s own George Mason University shows that the costs of Medicaid expansion have been significantly higher than estimated in the Congressional Budget Office’s original forecasts; and

Whereas, the state House passed a budget including Medicaid expansion and the state Senate did not, the chambers adjourning without agreeing on a final budget;

Whereas, the debate over Obamacare’s Medicaid Expansion in Virginia’s budget is causing unneeded uncertainty, controversy, and delays to the approval of a budget; now, therefore be it,

Resolved, that the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee reaffirms its creed and commends all Republican members of the House of Delegates and State Senate who opposed costly Medicaid expansion; and be it further

Resolved, that the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee calls on all elected Republicans in the General Assembly to send the Governor a budget that does not include funding for Medicaid expansion; and be it further

Resolved, that the chairman of the 11th Congressional District Republican Committee shall promptly cause this resolution to be posted on the party’s website and be distributed to all Republican members of the General Assembly and to the media.

Dated May 7, 2018

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Paul A. Prados, Chairman 11th Congressional District Republican Committee