Today the Virginia state Senate voted to expand Medicaid making Virginia only the second state to do so under Trump. (Maine was the other state but their Governor has refused to implement the program.) The 4 Republicans who helped the Democrats to pass expansion are:
- State Senator Emmett Hanger- R-24
- State Senator Jill Vogel- R- 27
- State Senator Ben Chafin- R-38
- State Senator Frank Wagner- R-7
I understand Hanger and Wagner, they’ve also been RINOs, and Ben Chafin’s district has a large number of poor and unemployed people who may need Medicaid, but Jill Vogel? Why would she vote to pass this costly program? The votes were there to pass it without her, and her district isn’t poor, so why did she vote with the Democrats? Is she hoping to get a big job in the Northam administration or did she want to kiss goodbye any future political ambitions she has? She has certainly done that. Stick a fork in her, she’s done.
91 comments
Didn’t Vogel claim credit for voting against expansion just a few years ago?? Are there any politicians who are not snakes?
NO! There are not in Virginia.
Cap contributions put an end to personal use of contributions.
When “time’s up” on federal help with medicaid expansion and we’re on the hook for this, our state government will come to us for the money in the form of taxes. Medicaid expansion is stupid. At the ER, no one is ever turned away for treatment. People are there to sign up our citizens for medicaid. VERY few do it…they don’t want medicaid. Even though medicaid will give them doctors and treatments, they would rather go to the ER whenever they want, which is a LOT more expensive to those of us who pay…but they don’t care as long as they’re not paying. What kind of sick system do we have right now? The hospitals, drug companies, and insurance companies are making a killing and we’re moving to socialized medicine, where the government can limit, take away, and price our options out of our ability to pay. Thanks Jill Vogel…none of these problems will effect you. Is this about power? Money? Time will tell.
Medicaid expansion in high immigration states like Virginia! What is that going to cost when the federal money runs out in a couple of years?
Fairfax county is awash in illegal immigrant children from Obama’s no illegal left behind. It gets to pay 11,000 per bundle of DACA joy every year for twelve years… Their school system is in the red every bloody year.
Now Medicaid expansion…. Please spare me that illegal immigrants won’t get it…. No one is checking for citizenship cause that would be rayciss…
The $2 BILLION plus dollars is coming from the federal government. We seem to forget that the federal government doesn’t have any money. We are in debt and Virginia will be receiving money that is borrowed on the backs of our children and grandchildren. This is immoral.
Virginia is only the second state to expand Obamacare since Trump came into office. The other one – Maine – has a Governor who refuses to implement it.
Way to go Virginia!
I am appalled by the actions of our Republican legislators. They all know why this is fiscally and morally wrong, but they did it anyway.
Thank you Susan! Great comment. Very few understand what this really means to us Virginians, and you are one of those few.
Why bother to support our republicans in state government? Wow….elections were less than a year away and this is where we are.
They’ve just voted themselves out of office. Let’s hope the people who care about liberty can organize themselves enough to primary or start third party if need be.
We thought we could rest a bit after the 2016 election but it’s time to rise again!
I have been a supporter of Sen. Vogel since her first campaign in 2007. She has represented Loudoun very well, though in the 2010 redistricting, she only has a sliver of the district (middleburg, aldie mainly). I inquired about what was going on and why she was going to support expansion . I mentioned my concern that there would be an incredible burden on counties and cities, which would have to hire extra staff to process the new enrollees — and that the state law (unless changed) does not give much federal or state aid to such hiring. In a follow to the emails below she said “yes, they will have to hire extra staff.” Well, that may be fine for counties like Loudoun, Fairfax, Arlington or cities like Alexandria. However, I don’t know where poor rural counties and cities are going to find the money.
My guess is that Jill knew this was going to pass since Wagner, Hangar
and chafin jumped ship and joined the Democrats and she had items in the
budget face of the bill that she wanted approved. I am only
speculating.
The following is her email to me and mine to her and as you can see she did not say she would oppose the expansion.
To: “Ken Reid”
Sent: 5/27/2018 4:11:54 PM
Subject: Re: Medicaid expansion
Ken,
I hope that you are having a great Memorial Day weekend. Thanks for the email.
I take the burden on localities very seriously and have been working hard on the budget. Notwithstanding all of the rumors and crazy emails (almost all of which are totally made up), there is nothing
going on here. I am trying to get my stuff back in the budget, improve upon any budget that is going to pass with some of the reforms that we should demand be in there and generally also put the pieces in there that are critical for some big constituencies
of mine that got kicked out when House version became the bill.
So vote is this week and I am not in a camp of raise taxes and I am also not in a camp of shut down the government. I think that is a mistake. I think we have to get a budget and I have never been
coy about where I was on expansion. I have been against it. Voted against it every time before and every vote this session.
Thank you for emailing and pray we get this done this week and get the best possible budget that we can get under the circumstances. I have to point out that when Congress and the WH didn’t repeal
and replace which was a big part of the November discourse, it made it way worse for states and now this budget process is much more complex
Have a great rest of your weekend and thanks again for emailing.
Jill
Senator Jill H. Vogel
District 27
}–>
Dear Senator
I am reading in social media that you plan to vote for the Medicaid expansion
before you do please find out what the cost of processing and administrating new beneficiaries will be to the counties and cities (i.e. Winchester, Frederick and Loudoun counties)
When I was on the Board of Supervisors, we had to pay 100% for new staff to administer Medicaid claims (2014) BEFORE any expansion.
I believe there is some federal aid, but not 100% , for new FTEs at the city and county level.
So, if I am correct, by voting for Medicaid expansion, you are in essence supporting a property tax increase at the local level to support it.
Please think about that.
Thank you and kind regards!
Hon. Kenneth “Ken” Reid
former Supervisor, Leesburg District
Former Councilmember, Town of Leesburg
Facebook: KenreidLeesburg
(703) 779-8777
So, then, she wasn’t truthful with her constituents, And, she’s blaming the WH and congress?
PASSING THE BUCK..
Did she vote it out of committee or not? Hers was the vote that made it all possible. Not a Republican alternative to be considered. This was her Neville Chamberlain moment. The destruction of her entire brand with this single action. I don’t see how she buys her way out of this one.
Here is Vogel’s email explanation. Curious how she pulls Sen. Dick Black out to help justify her actions, and I imagine he’s quite livid. Did he vote FOR or AGAINST the bill?
“Dear Friend,
“The Senate finally completed our budget late yesterday. We
have been hard at work since January and no one expected that we would
be in session until almost June to finish the process.
“This week’s votes started on Tuesday when the Senate Finance
Committee met in a contentious meeting to consider competing budget
proposals—a House budget proposal that included money for Medicaid
expansion and our Senate budget proposal that did not.
“I voted for the clean Senate budget and stood by those votes
through the process. It was a budget that I was proud of and it was a
product that many of us had worked on for more than a year.
“However, as we had learned weeks before, we did not have the
votes to pass the Senate budget out of the full Senate. Yesterday, as
anticipated, once the Senate’s version got to the floor, opponents of
that bill voted to substitute the House bill. Again I voted for our
Senate bill and then we moved on to votes on the House substitute.
“Hours of debate followed on individual parts of the bill,
mostly on the healthcare components. Individual members who opposed
Medicaid had the opportunity to pull the Medicaid sections out of the
budget and vote for or against Medicaid and for or against separate
reform measures. Many amendments were offered on countless other
sections of the budget and recorded votes were taken on each of those
actions.
“In the end, I voted with the majority of Senate Republicans
on the votes against expansion and for additional reforms. However, I
voted for the final budget.
“For those who are critical of Medicaid in this budget, rest
assured that there is no ambiguity about where I have been regarding
concerns about expanding that program. In previous legislative updates I
have laid out the economics of expansion and expressed my grave
concerns about the long- term fiscal impact.
“However, Medicaid is merely one part of this budget and as
negotiations progressed I pressed for many important things to be
included in the budget that were very important to me and to my
district. To succeed in getting good measures included and then to vote
against them is both negotiating in bad faith and shows a total lack of
integrity. The people of my district elected me to work in their best
interest. For the greater good, we should pass a budget before the
nearing deadline and not shut down government.
“I am so proud that this budget included a critical judgeship in
Loudoun that was very important to me and to Senator Dick Black. It also
included resources for the Innovation Center in Winchester, the Laurel
Center, Great Meadow, money for agriculture and conservation in our
district, money for Sheriffs, ID/DD waivers, money for autism services,
the Inland Port, and the list of matters important to constituencies in
the 27th district is very long. Moreover, the
larger budget has a lot that I am proud to support. It has significant
reform measures as well as key funding for transportation, veterans,
public safety, education, technology, broadband, agriculture and
forestry, commerce and trade, the Courts, higher ed and funding for
localities who depend on our budget decisions to make their own
budgets.
“With a few exceptions, the feedback on my work in this
process has been overwhelmingly positive–more than at any time in my
ten years in the Senate and most especially from those who have taken
the time to actually track the votes and follow the amendments and for
that I am very grateful.
“At the end of this Senate session we had heard thousands of
bills and resolutions. The budget bill was merely one of roughly 3,700
bills and resolutions. So we had our work cut out for us and I am
pleased to be nearly finished. We still have judges to vote on and await
the Governor’s action on a few remaining bills.
“I extend my deepest gratitude to everyone who helped us this
session, especially to my staff and to the hundreds of activists and
friends who came to visit and who generously contributed to our work on
bills and on the budget.
“I couldn’t vote to spend all the money I promised unless I voted to enable much much more spending.. ain’t you lucky to have me?”
Sorry to say that Jill thinks to capture NOVA’s votes for her next run for LT with her pro-Medicaid Expansion subterfuge, but those libs won’t ever support a Republican.
She could never win statewide again — this royal screw job not only takes her down, I’m afraid that she will be taking a lot down with her. She’s already trying to cling on to Dick Black, and seemed to imply that they were both voting for ME??
I think her first kiss of death will probably be EW Jackson – not like she’s expended any real political capital supporting him, but nonetheless, he will be tied to her.
You may be surprised to learn that I am bullish on Babs in this election!
Jill’s outright betrayal with this vote just may very well drive people to the polls to vote for Shak and against Babs (Jill by Proxy.)
This close to the election, those disgusted with Jill in the 10th will have a perfect way to express sentiment in the up and coming primary.
The message is clear: No matter how important Jill is for redistricting; no matter how much of an asshat Shak is; we are going to take our pitchforks, tar, feathers, and vote out Jill in Effigy (Congresswoman Comstock.)
Clearly they don’t realize the ‘Happy Phunball’ wing of our party is kinda moody after this vote.
Supporting Shak is merely sending an antiestablishment message to Comstock and other GOP powerbrokers, but Shak can’t win NOVA. Thus, voting Vogel out by proxy via misdirected anger at Comstock, i.e., “pitchforks, tar, feathers,” etc., could lose us another U.S. House seat.
Yes, exactly. I’d say that if Shak beats Barbara, it can be traced back to Jill and her vote. It will be ‘if you can vote to throw away our party, so can we.’
So far, the best argument for Barbara is: ‘a part -time Republican is better than a full-time democrat.’ This is a pretty compelling and rational argument. (The ‘Shak is a joke’ argument is just the icing on that cake.)
But now Jill takes us asymmetrical— she’s put the party faithful into ‘why the hell not? — Jill didn’t care, why should I?’ mode.
Babs has flyers out with Jill endorsement front and center. As we all know, endorsements have sharp blades on both sides. Voting for Shak could become construed as a big extended middle finger “Thank” you to Jill and the Jill-like.
Honestly, would any of us really be surprised if Jill decided tomorrow to instead support Shak? I mean how does she know what position she has today?
With the level of bizarro politics in the 10th, I can see Trump needing to tweet an endorsement for Babs.
A politician who lies???? Really???? I’m shocked. “going to pass any way” is cowardly. You can never please everyone, and it’s important to stick to principles and promises. She has failed us all around.
None of them get a pass. None of them. This state is done. Stick a fork in it. It is almost now worse than Maryland.
Vogel??? Say it ain’t so. There goes my support for her for anything…ever. I do not care if it is “Mother of the Year”, we’ve been betrayed.
All 4 of these idiots need to be primaried into oblivion, where they belong. And let us not forget the 17 (?) Republican cowards in the House of Delegates. Great job, Republican Party of Virginia!!
Even rats jumping off a sinking ship make a splash, eh?
They’re surviving. The ship is clearly sinking. Act accordingly. They are!
Ben Chaplin doesn’t get a pass. The poor and unemployed were always eligible. The expansion folded in the able bodied, childless people at 130% of the poverty level!
Correct, didn’t they expand the income threshold ?
Check Health Association and Pharmaceutical Contributions.
It’s at least 133%
Some get elected to gain their individual wealth.
I think Jill H Vogel is the leading contender for the Marcus Tullius Cicero Award.
“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear.”
You mistake the RPV (the crazy state party of losers) for the nation. Not an easy mistake to make.
DACA dissent, Medicaid dissent, almost four dozen reps retiring — when do you awaken?
Lock-step thinking and voting are not working. Time to embrace the open market you claim to support for thinking.
Vogel gets it. She has a future. She realizes it has little to nothing to do with the rest of you.
We’ve nothing to fear more than closed minds. Welcome to the enemy.
You would think some of these people would see what is happening on the west coast with the homeless situation and avoid encouraging Virginia from becoming the homeless capitol of the east. The more freebies government provides, the more free loaders you get.
Good point. In my home turf of Seattle, the Democrats constantly work to increase the homeless population. Of course, they pretend to be “helping,” but homelessness has steadily increased for decades, and the Democrats manage to keep it that way because it serves their political interests. It is diabolical.
She voted her concious and her convictions without regard for politics or her political future. And she did the right thing for Virginia’s working poor. Bravo Jill Vogel. Guts. Fearless. Courageous. Stateswoman. She didn’t play the game. She’s a great lady.
She’s lost her mind.
Wow. You are more than welcome and free to call me as many nasty names as you like. I believe in Jill Vogel and I’m proud her vote on Medicaid Expansion to help working poor Virginians have an opportunity to get health care while they fight to move up the economic ladder. As Trump Chairman for Virginia, I can tell you that 85% of those who will be assisted by this legislation voted for Trump. They voted for Trump to get a shot at a better life. And Jill Vogel stood by that promise. As did Frank Wagner. Jill might be a lady but she’s got big balls. A true stateswoman. She had nothing to gain.
I think what you aren’t understanding John, is that many of us have principles and try to be consistent. Taking money from one family to give to another is not noble or brave. Shame on you. Shame.
You were co-chair not chair — right?
So you think that Trump voters want huge expensive govt.? Hog wash. You. Do. Not. Understand. Us.
And what proof are you using to back up “I can tell you that 85% of those who will be assisted by this legislation voted for Trump.” Hmmmm???
Clearly you are a progressive. The worst of the worst. No more time spent on you.
I think he became chair after Corey Stewart had a Corey Stewart moment and became too crazy even for the Russian Don.
That was late in the game. And Trump lost Virginia.
You’re premise is incorrect. There is less of a need to “move up the economic ladder” if someone is providing for free what you must otherwise earn.
85% wow, sciency.
No, they voted to Make America Great Again — they voted against all things Obamacare.
A stateswoman perhaps, but in no way a Commonwealths-woman.
Explain this please,
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y8mcN0zweQE
Seems pretty straightforward. “Mostly Private”
Expanding Medicaid is not a solution, it is a sop, the same entitlement philosophy favored by the democrat party as they Piven-Cloward our Republic and Commonwealth into their opium dream.
It was cowardly for Senator Jill’s Committee to ‘offer’ this crap legislation and it was cowardly for ‘the retiring 4’ to betray Virginia and their party, and it was cowardly for the RPV SCC to refuse to condemn this healthcare abortion.
But, it certainly did give some of our delegates and senators the ‘flexibility to negotiate’ their own ‘fundamental transformation.’
Vogel has lost my support. Very disappointed in her. There will be no end to the incessant hands out for increasing government programs. More welfare state. Many of them immigrants who claim they do not sap resources. No. Tell her to get lost.
What nasty names did I call you?
I don’t call anyone names and I don’t know how you are equating “She’s lost her mind” in refence to Vogel to calling you nasty names.
Perhaps he thinks that his ‘Republicans for Northam’ is now nasty?
It’s about our state and country, not Trump. This isn’t about shifting money to Trump voters the way Dems buy their voters. And I don’t think they are as you say anyway.
Were you for this under Obama?
Absolutely correct!
I can take care of the cost of my families health care with a level playing field in legal employment.
John need to talk about the
fraudulent employment in the Virginia Construction Industry Republicans allow.
…and more than a few voters.
Just the kind of representative government envisioned by the founders.
But what would you expect from the founder of ‘Republicans for Northam?’
Sorry John. ME will not do any of the things you say. Everyone including the poor will eventually suffer. You bought into a narrative that feels good but hosestly has no basis in fact.
Our Senators heard the dozens of reasons why ME is going to hurt all Virgians and some did it anyway.
This is a berayal.
That’s right John. Not a smidgen of self-interest in her decision. She did not consider – even for a nano second! — trading her vote for personal gain — the chance of keeping her position. Because if she had traded herself for personal gain, that would make her a WHORE.
And you, John, are either naive and deluded, or a lying POS progressive, or you believe the crap you just spewed and still are a POS progressive.
Jill vocal voted to expand socialism in Virginia! BTW no matter how much you praise her and grant soft ball interviews she is no longer a viable state-wide candidate.
More free stuff all the rest of us will have to pay for. Don’t give me this “convictions” crap.
John, you’re definitely truckin’ something, but it sure ain’t the truth.
Consummate RINO…no wonder you’re all up in Cole Trower’s butt.
Perhaps we can presume that the people he doesn’t like are more Republican than those that he does like?
Republicans for Northam, bashing Corey, gushing over democrats and Republicans that act democrat, a virtue-signaling bleeding heart…
Not quite ‘Fake News’ but maybe ‘Fake Republican,’ ‘Fake Conservative,’ and/or ‘Fake Trump??’
I would like to think those count as nasty names.
You have lost your mind!
People did not vote for Trump for free stuff.
The crooked Republicans in our General Assembly could have pushed through hb1106 onto the Senate and had it signed into law thus moving forward in eliminating payroll fraud , Santurary Employment and seen an honest growth in wages not needing government run health care.
Why won’t Virginia Republicans combat Santurary Employment ?
For you to call this “Statesmanship”
gives credibility to Democrat Governor McAuliffe working with
NC. Republican Governor McCrory on payroll fraud a level of Statesmanship that is Presidential.
Or maybe there’s a lot of other good things in the budget that is good for her district? What a novel and complex theory. Probably too large for you to wrap your head around.
Time will tell and we will soon find out if what Senator Vogel gains is greater or less than what Senator Vogel costs.
Time will tell? Every state that’s expanded Medicaid has found that — despite the 90-10 federal reimbursement — that 10 percent unfunded liability was 50 percent higher than expected, because 50 percent more new Medicaid recipients signed up than were estimated. Thank Vogel for helping all taxpaying Virginians to bend over and take Obamacare’s screwing. Forbes
reported that the Congressional Budget Office’s “Budget and Economic
Outlook” for 2010-2016 illustrated that “far more people—roughly 50% more—have enrolled and are
projected to enroll in Medicaid in the states that expanded than was expected
by CBO previously.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/theapothecary/2016/09/18/obamacare-medicaid-expansion-a-lot-of-spending-of-little-value/#4fb1e31c7a32 Now please stop worshiping Vogel — she’s screwed us all.
Sigh.
How could pork for her district outweigh the estimated $2 BILLION this will cost the state.
If you would take even 5 seconds to research the financial disaster medicaid expansion has inflicted on other states, you would not make such an idiotic statement.
What is easier;
The folks that are on line for the Goverment to provide for their livelyhood?
The Representatives that facilitated these lines?
Work is hard no matter of you are the hourly worker or the elected but remember;
Hard work makes up for talent when talent doesn’t work hard.
Cop out?
Please speak English.
Ok,
Why import labor when the workforce is right here.
Seal the border.
Dope test the welfare recipients
Dope test the HUD recipient.
Then they start to work.
Now balance trade.
English;
Doesn’t take much talent to spend tax dollars off of the back of the working class.
Representatives have a responsibility to lead.
So this is leadership?
Not to talented.
You identify the problem. When people are propped up by ever expanding welfare services, they lose the work ethic. Studies of the U.K. welfare system make it rather clear that those on long term welfare actually like being on welfare and avoid work. There is far too much comfort associated with the dole and far too much unfairness for those who work.
Thank you,
And the Representatives do the easy thing , write a check that we have to fund.
BINGO.
Yes,
Ms. Martin
Chafin’s District has a large number of unemployed and poor.
I hold some rental homes there and I am in disbelief of the potential workforce that is there. For our State Legislature as a whole to allow the amount of dope (imported and home made), welfare recipients , HUD housing and the growth of illegal immigrants is a display of leadership to clean up our own closet.
Awful for Volvo White to have to reach out 50 miles from Dublin for workers.
Clearly she felt this was in the best interest of her constituents and the Commonwealth of Virginia.
It is important for Virginians to cover the cost increases of this wise and well accepted practice.
It is a challenge and opportunity for Counties and Cities to initiate and administrate the increased services out of their healthy budgets.
It is Former Republican LG Candidate Jill Vogel who wishes to recreate Virginia in the model of West Virginia with all the corresponding successes and improvements with their Medicaid Expansion.
Thank you Jill and our other Yea voting Republican Senators for having the bravery and foresight to set aside common sense, political wisdom, and fiscal responsibility in favor of to-be-determined political rewards and accolades from your progressive patrons.
Which other aspects of the Republican Creed will you next choose to abrogate?
Great comment!
Rocinante for President
Rocinante for Vogel’s butt kisser.
It was sarcasm my friend.
Apologies to all for not recognizing it as such, since my ability to acknowledge or recognize humor — satire or otherwise — is vastly diminished by Vogel’s backstabbing of conservatism . Sorry.
“Which other aspects of the Republican Creed will you next choose to abrogate?” Pardon Jeanine for pointing out the obvious — Vogel’s treachery and betrayal was complete, and you call it “bravery, foresight, political wisdom and common sense?” I want you to remember that I told you last week this was exactly what Vogel would do, when I said “she’s already betrayed us.”
I think your sarcasm detector may be malfunctioning, might want to get that thing checked.
Repost: Apologies to all for not recognizing it as such, since my ability to
acknowledge or recognize humor — satire or otherwise — is vastly
diminished by Vogel’s backstabbing of conservatism . Sorry.
It was tongue in cheek. It was “bravery and foresight to set aside common sense.” He wasn’t complimenting her.
Repost: My ability to acknowledge or recognize humor — satire or otherwise — is vastly
diminished by Vogel’s backstabbing of conservatism . Sorry.
What happens when the federal money is no longer available we have to pick up the tab? We’re on the way to being fundamentally transformed into Connecticut and this is a step in that direction.
Worse than Connecticut… A mere shadow of the Commonwealth we once were.
My apologies for mistaking your post as Vogel worship: Sorry.
Once again Virginia Republicans show their true colors… Democrat Lite. This is yet another episode of Virginia Republican’s continuing irrelevancy.
Dave LaRock for State Senate!
Amen. Can we clone him?
Several dozen times?
One man with a dream, at pleasure,
Shall go forth and conquer a crown;
And three with a new song’s measure
Can trample an empire down.
That’s very nice. Who wrote it?
http://www.bartleby.com/103/6.html