ICYMI: Virginia Democratic Leaders Praise Expansion of Medicaid in the Commonwealth
Governor Ralph Northam
“Today the General Assembly sent a budget to my desk that will improve the lives of all Virginians. It will expand health care for up to 400,000 people who need it. It will invest in schools, workforce training, public safety, and an economy that works better for every Virginian, no matter who they are or where they live.
“This budget is the culmination of five years of effort to bring our taxpayer dollars home from Washington and expand Medicaid. As a doctor, I’m so proud of the significant step we’ve taken together to help Virginians get quality, affordable care.
“This is the best reflection of what we can accomplish when we do things the Virginia Way, and I want to thank the Virginia Senate and House of Delegates for their good faith efforts to come to this historic agreement.”
Former Governor Terry McAuliffe
“As Governor I fought to expand medicaid until the very end of my administration including it in the 2018 budget with the hope the Republicans in the General Assembly would put politics aside and do the right thing for Virginians.
Above all, I was passionate because I looked mothers and fathers, sons and daughters in the eye and heard how they could not work or care for their families, they could not live the lives that they deserve because they cannot get the health care they need.
It’s a great day for hundreds of thousands of working Virginians.”
United States Senator Mark Warner
“I’m thrilled that the Virginia Senate has decided partisan politics should no longer stand in the way of thousands of Virginia families getting the healthcare they need. I look forward to the House of Delegates soon doing the same.
“Governor Northam and supporters of Medicaid expansion should be proud of this bipartisan achievement, but the real winners here are the hardworking Virginians who will finally have healthcare for their families.”
United States Senator Tim Kaine
“To the 23 Senators who voted yes: thank you. You are doing right by your constituents and the Commonwealth. Now, we can finally expand coverage to hundreds of thousands of Virginians who need it.”
Lieutenant Governor Justin Fairfax
"Because people came out in large numbers and made their voices heard in 2017 we now stand together today to celebrate this great accomplishment."
Attorney General Mark Herring
“YES! The lives of 400k Virginians just got better. Many folks deserve our thanks today including Ralph Northam, Terry McAuliffe, Virginia House Democrats, Virginia Senate Democrats, and everyone who voted/volunteered in our elections. Your work matters!"
Virginia Senate Democrats
““There is not another Western democracy that has the problems dealing with healthcare that the United States has and quite frankly it’s a disgrace and it shouldn’t be this way. The Senate Democrats believe that healthcare is a right and not a privilege. We should never forget that. Access to long term preventative healthcare is a economic issue. You can’t work if you’re sick and emergency care, which is what a lot of people end up falling back on, is extremely expensive." - Leader Dick Saslaw
Virginia House Democrats
“It provides Medicaid expansion in the most simple and direct way possible. Nearly 400,000 Virginians will finally have access to health care and this will allow us to make vital investments to improve the lives of all Virginians by providing more funding for education, economic development, and tackling the opioid crisis.” - Leader David Toscano and Caucus Chair Charniele Herring
DPVA Chairwoman Susan Swecker
“These hardworking public servants and activists have now guaranteed that essential health care will be provided to hundreds of thousands of Virginians currently caught in the Medicaid coverage gap.
The expansion of Medicaid is a victory for ALL Virginians. Today our Commonwealth is safer, it is stronger, and it is healthier.”