Watch the vote live here.
The state Senate will vote within the hour for amendments to the budget followed by a vote on the full budget. Currently in the budget is the language that authorizes the Governor to expand medicaid and Obamacare on his own, as we reported earlier this week. Please contact your Senator immediately and tell him to vote yes on Dick Black’s amendment. The amendment reads:
That notwithstanding Item 301 of this act, any other provision of this act, or any other law, no coverage for newly eligible individuals pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1396d(y)(1)[2010] of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act shall be permitted unless the General Assembly enacts a law on or after July 1, 2014, that provides the specific date when such coverage shall begin. The provisions of this enactment shall have no expiration date.
That means the General Assembly must vote on any medicaid expansion and the Governor cannot do it without them. Seems reasonable! But we have to get it in the budget! Call your Senator and then call your delegate. We need both Houses behind this! You might want to remind them of what happened to Eric Cantor, Joe May, and Bev Sherwood. Every Senator and Delegate needs to be on record voting for Dick Black’s amendment or they will face same fate as Cantor, May and Sherwood.
The Senate reconvenes at 5:00 and the House at 6:00.
Republican State Senators
Black, Richard H. 13 R (804) 698-7513 (703) 406-2951
Carrico, Charles W., Sr. 40 R (804) 698-7540 (276) 236-0098
Cosgrove, John A. , Jr. 14 R (804) 698-7514 (757) 547-3422
Garrett, Thomas A., Jr. 22 R (804) 698-7522 (434) 944-7770
Hanger, Emmett W., Jr. 24 R (804) 698-7524 (540) 885-6898
Martin, Stephen H. 11 R (804) 698-7511 (804) 674-0242
McDougle, Ryan T. 4 R (804) 698-7504 (804) 730-1026
McWaters, Jeffrey L. 8 R (804) 698-7508 (757) 965-3700
Newman, Stephen D. 23 R (804) 698-7523 (434) 385-1065
Norment, Thomas K., Jr. 3 R (804) 698-7503 (757) 259-7810
Obenshain, Mark D. 26 R (804) 698-7526 (540) 437-1451
Reeves, Bryce E. 17 R (804) 698-7517 (540) 645-8440
Ruff, Frank M., Jr. 15 R (804) 698-7515 (434) 374-5129
Smith, Ralph K. 19 R (804) 698-7519 (540) 206-3597
Stanley, William M., Jr. 20 R (804) 698-7520 (540) 721-6028
Stosch, Walter A. 12 R (804) 698-7512 (804) 527-7780
Stuart, Richard H. 28 R (804) 698-7528 (804) 493-8892
Vogel, Jill Holtzman 27 R (804) 698-7527 (540) 662-4551
Wagner, Frank W. 7 R (804) 698-7507 (757) 671-2250
Watkins, John C. 10 R (804) 698-7510 (804) 379-2063
Get on the phone, now! Thank you!
