State of Virginia Archives: on Health Care

Bob McDonnell: ObamaCare is expensive, bureaucratic, and inflexible

When he presented his budget amendments last month, Gov. Bob McDonnell highlighted the stress of Medicaid on finances, calling it "the second largest program in our general fund budget," one that has "grown exponentially" over the past 30 years. In a December speech, McDonnell said the health care overhaul was an "expensive, bureaucratic, tax-raising and inflexible" program with many questions still unanswered more than two years after its passage. The governor didn't include money in his budget for expansion.

Yet legislators in the Virginia House and Senate have offered legislation to broaden Medicaid. The case for expansion goes something like this: In addition to being the humane thing to do, it benefits the state financially. One study estimated an annual benefit of roughly $4 billion for the next six years.

Democrats have clamored for expansion, and some say Republican resistance is more about political spite than actual policy differences.

Source: Virginian-Pilot on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race Jan 31, 2013

Don Beyer: Support & improve ObamaCare

I feel strongly that the President needs our support for the new health care reform law. While the law isn't perfect, it is a historical achievement that will help cover all Americans & reform our health care coverage system. Instead of trying to repeal the law, like the Tea Party Republicans are doing, we need to make it better. I oppose the proposal in the Ryan Budget that would turn Medicare into a private voucher system. Medicare works well, and we need to do all we can to improve and strengthen it. Source: 2014 Virginia House campaign website, FriendsOfDonBeyer.com Oct 10, 2014

Ed Gillespie: Benefits from GOP resistance to the new health law

Gillespie begins the race as a pronounced underdog. Sen. Warner, a former governor now in his first Senate term, is the most popular politician in Virginia. But Republicans in the state believe that, because of resistance to the new health law and President Obama's declining popularity, they have an opportunity to at least make the race competitive. Source: New York Times on 2014 Virginia Senate race Jan 9, 2014

Ed Gillespie: Ebola: Impose a flight ban from West Africa

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie hammered each other over ethics and taxes in their third and final scheduled debate.

Warner and Gillespie found common ground in their criticism of the Obama administration's handling of the Ebola outbreak. Warner said the administration should have moved more quickly in setting up Ebola screenings at major U.S. airports, while Gillespie said the U.S. should have already imposed a flight ban on planes coming from West Africa.

Source: News-Tribune on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Oct 13, 2014

Frank Wagner: Expand Medicaid as long as federal share stays overs 90%

The governor didn't include money in his budget for Medicaid expansion under ObamaCare. Yet Virginia legislators have offered legislation to broaden Medicaid. One study estimated an annual benefit of roughly $4 billion for the next six years.

Democrats have clamored for expansion, but some Republicans in the majority have offered a way forward on expansion [despite resistance within their party].

Among them is GOP Sen. Frank Wagner, who has offered legislation to expand the program with a caveat: The state could cancel its participation if the federal share of expansion costs fall below 90%. Noting Virginians will pay new taxes under the health care act, Wagner reasons the state "ought to get some benefit" and return on investment. That money will go to other states if Virginia doesn't join up, he adds. The ultimate goal of the health care act is to spread costs among more payers and lessen the strain of uncompensated care, on providers and on the insured through their premiums.

Source: Virginian-Pilot on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race Jan 31, 2013

George Allen: I want to be the deciding vote to repeal ObamaCare

Their differences kicked in as they reacted to the Supreme Court's decision to uphold the individual mandate at the heart of President Barack Obama's health care reform law. Allen watched news reports about the decision. "I'm disappointed that they had to use all this judicial creativity to call the mandate a tax," Allen said of the majority justices. "Unlike Tim Kaine, who thinks this is a great achievement, I want to be the deciding vote to repeal it."

Kaine said in a statement that insurance premiums and the number of uninsured both rose dramatically during Allen's term in the Senate. "Clearly, inaction was not a solution, and neither are continued calls for repeal. Instead, we must work together to strengthen this existing program and improve cost controls," Kaine said.

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2012 Virginia Senate Debates Jun 28, 2012

George Allen: ObamaCare hurts seniors by taking $700B from Medicare

Kaine noted both Medicare and Social Security are critically important. He said the Medicare budget is growing partially for the good reason that people are living longer. However, Kaine added that the government needs to get costs under control. Kaine proposed allowing the government to negotiate rates for prescription drug prices. He argues this will save about $250 billion over ten years. Kaine argued that Congress failed to include that provision while Allen was in the Senate for Medicare Part D. Kaine also promoted examining pilot projects for healthy outcomes, instead of just medical procedures.

Allen on Medicare, said Part D has helped seniors pay for their medications. Allen claims the $700 billion that "ObamaCare" takes out would hurt seniors. Kaine countered that money would be moved to programs that help seniors live healthier and prevent some medical procedures.

Source: WSLS-TV-10 on 2012 Virginia Senate debate Oct 18, 2012

Jamie Radtke: Repeal Obama's health care overhaul

All four candidates pledged to work to repeal President Barack Obama's health care overhaul. But Radtke went further, blaming Allen's "undisciplined campaign" in 2006 for handing control of the Senate to the Democrats, enabling passage of the health care law. Source: The Virginian-Pilot on 2012 Virginia Senate debate May 12, 2012

Justin Fairfax: VA should have expanded Medicaid for 400,000 people

Fairfax believes Virginia should have expanded Medicaid to provide needed health care for some 400,000 state residents who lack insurance. Other states that did so still have 90 percent of the costs covered by the federal government. Source: Free Lance-Star on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race Oct 29, 2017

Ken Cuccinelli: Challenged & won on Constitutionality of ObamaCare's mandate

No one has fought President Barack Obama's health care reform law more effectively than Virginia Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli. The Republican is spearheading the legal challenges against the bill, especially the "individual mandate" provision that would require most Americans to buy health insurance. Cuccinelli won a major victory in Dec. 2010 when a federal judge found that provision of the law to be unconstitutional, and the case is expected to wind up before the US Supreme Court. Asked about Obama's recent statement that he would support legislation that would allow states to opt out of the mandate if they can find another way to expand coverage without driving up health care costs, Cuccinelli said he doesn't expect much to come from the president's comments. "They put four enormous conditions on what they call the opting out, and one of them that I would point to first is that it has to be deficit-neutral. You think he's going to let the states do that?" Cuccinelli asked. "I doubt it." Source: PolitiFact.com on 2013 Virginia governor debates Mar 7, 2011

Ken Cuccinelli: ObamaCare has 6 years of costs vs. 10 years of tax revenue

Ken Cuccinelli said on March 1st, 2011 in an appearance on Fox News that the health care bill has "six years of costs against 10 years of tax revenue." The claim that the health care bill charges 10 years of taxes and for only six years of services is widely used by Republicans.

Two of the highest-profile elements of the bill start in 2014, roughly four years after the law took effect. The virtual marketplaces known as health care exchanges would start that year, enabling those who are uninsured to buy insurance. In addition, that's the year for a major expansion in eligibility for Medicaid. And a 10-year phase out of the "doughnut hole"--the gap in Medicare drug coverage--began last year. The Republican argument that benefits don't kick in until 2014 is true if you're looking at those big provisions. But many smaller provisions have already taken effect. And many of the major tax changes will be delayed by a few years. We rate this claim Half True.

Source: PolitiFact.com on 2013 Virginia governor debates Mar 7, 2011

Ken Cuccinelli: Opposes ObamaCare and opposes delaying its implementation

Cuccinelli reiterated his opposition to President Obama's health-care plan, but he also criticized Obama for not following his own law by postponing the legislation's employer mandate for one year. McAuliffe, meanwhile, made clear that he still supports the law and stressed that he thinks Virginia should accept the measure's invitation to expand the state's Medicaid program, which Cuccinelli opposes. Source: Washington Post on 2013 Virginia governor debates Jul 21, 2013

Mark Warner: Answer seniors' questions with "Senior Navigator"

Virginia's senior citizens face plenty of challenges in taking care of their health. Sometimes the toughest challenge is simply getting answers to basic questions, like: How will my medications interact?

"Senior Navigator" will help senior citizens. Senior Navigator is an interactive health-care information web site for seniors on the Internet. But it also creates a network of community-based volunteers who will help seniors navigate the health-care maze.

Source: MarkWarner2001.org, "Bringing Virginia Together" Jan 8, 2001

Mark Warner: AdWatch: Targeted by RNC robocalls for support of ObamaCare

Sen. Mark Warner is among 11 Democrats targeted by the Republican National Committee for their support of ObamaCare. The RNC is using robocalls and posting on Facebook to urge people to call their representatives and ask "why they supported President Obama's lie that people could keep their healthcare plans under ObamaCare."

The targets besides Mark Warner are Reps. Gary Peters (MI) and Bruce Braley (IA), Mark Begich (AK), Dick Durbin (IL), Kay Hagan (NC), Mary Landrieu (LA), Jeff Merkley (OR), Mark Pryor (AR), Jeanne Shaheen (NH), and Mark Udall (CO). The robocall script reads:

"President Obama and the Democrats said you could keep your healthcare plan under ObamaCare. Now we know [SENATOR] actually VOTED to make it more difficult. Call [SENATOR] at (XXX)-XXX-XXX & ask why [he/she] lied."

The robocalls are a response to Democrats launching the "GOP Shutdown Watch" campaign, highlighting Republican senate candidates who supported the partial federal government shutdown.

Source: MI Daily Tribune PacWatch: 2014 Virginia Senate debate Nov 5, 2013

Mark Warner: Ebola: screen passengers on flights from West Africa

Democratic Sen. Mark Warner and Republican challenger Ed Gillespie hammered each other over ethics and taxes in their third and final scheduled debate.

Source: News-Tribune on 2014 Virginia Senate debate Oct 13, 2014

Robert Sarvis: Focus on catastrophic insurance & cash subsidies

I favor a three-part approach to overhauling public health-care spending:

Focus on catastrophic, not comprehensive, insurance/care. Comprehensive insurance programs are ridiculously expensive, but the benefits in health outcomes do not justify the cost. The most salient benefit is protection from financially ruinous catastrophic health problems, which can be provided at much lower cost by catastrophic insurance.
Focus public spending on mental-health care. Studies suggest high returns on public spending on mental health.
Focus on cash subsidies. Rather than having bureaucrats decide what services should be available and at what cost, providing cash subsidies gives patients greater flexibility to meet their individualized health-care needs and restores market incentives to keep costs down and to innovate in the provision of services.

Source: Virginia Governor 2013 campaign website, robertsarvis.com Sep 21, 2013

Terry McAuliffe: Supports ObamaCare's expanding the state's Medicaid program

Tim Kaine: Inaction was not a solution for healthcare

Source: Washington Post coverage of 2012 Virginia Senate Debates Jun 28, 2012

Tim Kaine: Let Medicare negotiate rates for prescription drug prices

Source: WSLS-TV-10 on 2012 Virginia Senate debate Oct 18, 2012

Tim Kaine: 1 million Virginians do not have health insurance

Virginia is a leader in many areas, but health care is not one of them. Like every state in the nation, we face a health care crisis. In 2004, Virginians spent $5,000 annually on healthcare for every man, woman, and child in the Commonwealth.

The cost of these services has significantly increased the cost of health insurance, moving it beyond the reach of many small employers and the self-employed. An estimated 1 million Virginians do not have health insurance. As a result, many of our citizens often do not receive the preventive care that is so important in reducing the onset of more serious health problems.

We must continue to work together to strengthen health and health care in Virginia. And there is so much that we can do to improve. The first step is helping Virginians take better care of themselves. While there are a growing number of exceptions, our health care system does not consistently encourage healthy living in a meaningful way

Source: 2007 State of the State address to Virginia Assembly Jan 10, 2007

Tim Kaine: Mental health system is chronically under-funded

We have not forgotten the example of the Virginia Tech students. Together, all three branches of government have studied the challenge of delivering mental health services more effectively.

Six percent of Virginians have a serious mental illness, and one of every four citizens of the Commonwealth has a diagnosable mental illness of some type. Most of us have been directly impacted by mental illness among friends, families, or co-workers, and we know firsthand the magnitude of this problem. But due to chronic under-funding and an insufficient focus on the quality of care, our mental health system has not been measuring up to the needs of Virginia's mentally ill.

The strain on our overloaded case managers mean that thousands of Virginians with mental health needs are not getting treatment when they need it. Many are not being treated at all. If we identify people with mental illnesses and provide them with proper treatment and support, we serve them and our communities better.

Source: 2008 State of the State address to Virginia Assembly Jan 9, 2008

Donald McEachin: Affordable health care should be considered a human right

Donald believes affordable health care should be considered a human right. No one should have to forgo basic treatment for want of insurance. No one should have to choose between buying medicine and buying food. In Congress, Donald will:

push for targeted reforms that improve and strengthen the Affordable Care Act, including measures to lower costs for working families
seek new incentives for states to expand Medicaid and ensure that working families have access to quality, affordable health care
oppose efforts to replace Medicare with a voucher system, block grant Medicaid, or otherwise shift new costs to seniors and working families

Source: 2016 Virginia House campaign website DonaldMcEachin.com Nov 8, 2016

Scott Taylor: It's not complicated--ObamaCare should be repealed

Health Care: What an incredibly complicated subject. Health care affects literally every American. Here is what is not complicated--ObamaCare should be repealed and replaced. The government cannot require citizens to engage in commerce that they don't want to engage in. However, adults should act like adults and buy health insurance not because they are required to but because it's the right thing to do. It's good for the individual and it's good for society when people join an insurance pool. People with pre-existing conditions must be able to purchase affordable health insurance. Scott supports market-based solutions like having the ability to buy insurance over state lines, being able to pool resources with multi-state associations or groups to generate buying and negotiating power and taking any responsible step to reduce the cost of health care delivery. Source: 2016 Virginia House campaign website ScottTaylor.US Nov 8, 2016

Ralph Northam: Proud voice in favor of Medicaid expansion

In addition to his responsibilities as the tie breaking vote in the Senate, Lt. Governor Northam has been a proud voice in favor of Medicaid expansion because he believes that Republicans have placed themselves on the wrong side of history by putting partisan politics before the health of up to 400,000 hard-working Virginians--15,000 of whom are veterans--and an estimated 30,000 new jobs. Source: 2016-17 Virginia gubernatorial campaign website Nov 1, 2015

Corey Stewart: ObamaCare has failed; Medicaid expansion is major disaster

Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare? Support Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Tim Kaine (D): Supports ACA; has voted against all efforts for full or partial repeal. Praised Virginia's Medicaid expansion.

Corey Stewart (R): Full repeal. "ObamaCare has failed." Called Virginia Medicaid expansion "a major disaster for our party." Replace Medicaid with state block grants.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Virginia Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Tim Kaine: Praised Virginia's Medicaid expansion

Q: Support or Repeal Affordable Care Act (ACA), known as ObamaCare? Support Medicaid expansion to subsidize low-income participants?

Tim Kaine (D): Supports ACA; has voted against all efforts for full or partial repeal. Praised Virginia's Medicaid expansion.

Corey Stewart (R): Full repeal. "ObamaCare has failed." Called Virginia Medicaid expansion "a major disaster for our party." Replace Medicaid with state block grants.

Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on Virginia Senate race Oct 9, 2018

Ralph Northam: When people are healthy, they contribute to our economy

Let's turn to health care. I ask you to pass the healthcare equity budget I sent you last month. When people are healthy, they can work and contribute to our economy. That's good for everyone. I also ask you to take three more actions to make health care easier and more affordable. First, I am sending you legislation to create a state-run marketplace. Second, I ask you to create a "reinsurance program." Then, it's time to end the laws that restrict a woman's right to direct her own health care. Source: 2020 Virginia State of the State address Jan 8, 2020

Amanda Chase: Allow insurance across state lines; no surprise billing

Amanda introduced a healthcare cost transparency bill that would require healthcare providers to give patients an estimated cost of services prior to services being provided. She has also sponsored legislation that would allow individuals to purchase insurance across state lines and supported several healthcare bills that would have provided business owners with group insurance as well as temporary insurance for individuals in between jobs. Source: 2021 Virginia Governor campaign website Chase4Senate.com Dec 13, 2020

Jennifer McClellan: Helped expand Medicaid coverage to over 400,000 Virginians

She led the fight to create a Virginia Health Benefit Exchange when the Affordable Care Act first passed and finally achieved success this year. She fought to expand Medicaid coverage to over 400,000 Virginians; she fought to expand access to and lower the cost of prescription drugs; and she has fought to expand access to preventative, reproductive, behavioral, and long-term care for all Virginians and to make the system easier to understand and navigate. Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign website JennMcClellanVA.com Feb 18, 2021

Kirk Cox: Raised over $2 million for breast cancer awareness

Kirk has been a leading advocate for breast cancer awareness and research, creating the Virginia Breast Cancer Pink Ribbon license plate that has raised over $2 million for breast cancer awareness. As Speaker, Kirk also implemented a paid family leave policy for House of Delegates employees. Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign website KirkCox.com Feb 19, 2021

Terry McAuliffe: Bring PPE & pharmaceutical manufacturing to Virginia

Cut down on costs and supply-chain issues by bringing PPE and pharmaceutical manufacturing to Virginia. We must leverage our capabilities and bring PPE and other life science manufacturing to Virginia. PPE will remain an ongoing need for the healthcare industry in a post-COVID world, as will affordable medications for Virginians. Terry recognizes how critical it is to bring pharmaceutical manufacturing to Virginia to cut down on costs of expensive prescription drugs.

Terry is extremely proud that we finally expanded Medicaid for hundreds of thousands of Virginians. Terry will propose solutions to make sure every Virginian has access to quality, affordable health care. That means expanding coverage and lowering premiums by working closely with the federal government to create a reinsurance program, increasing subsidies to help families pay for their health care premiums and working to lower the cost of prescription drugs.

Source: 2021 Virginia governor campaign website Terry McAuliffe.com Dec 22, 2020

Glenn Youngkin: $230M to build strong, stable behavioral health safety net

Last month, I stood at Henrico Doctors Hospital to announce a three-year plan to fundamentally transform our behavioral health system.

The "Right Help, Right Now" plan is comprehensive and I ask this General Assembly to fully fund the $230 million first step of this plan. This funding rapidly accelerates the transformation toward a strong and stable behavioral health safety net. It will substantially expand system capacity--same day care, relieving the burden on law enforcement, greater pre-crisis service capacity in schools, a focus on substance use disorder, a stronger behavioral health workforce, and service innovations.

Source: 2023 State of the State Address to the Virginia legislature Jan 11, 2023

Mark Herring: No more political games with preexisting conditions

For years, Republicans have played political games with the lives of millions of Virginians, especially those with preexisting conditions, forcing them to live in constant fear that their healthcare could be ripped away from them at any moment. We find ourselves in a public health crisis and any disruption to our healthcare system now would be absolutely catastrophic. I have taken every opportunity to protect Virginians' access to affordable healthcare and I plan to continue that fight. Source: A.G. press release for 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race Mar 23, 2020

Ralph Northam: Expand access to Medicaid for 400,000 of our citizens

Democrat Ralph Northam will run for Virginia governor. "We need to continue investing in early childhood education," Northam wrote, "creating jobs in the new Virginia economy, protecting women's reproductive rights and expanding access to Medicaid for 400,000 of our citizens."

Medicaid expansion has been a legislative priority for state Democrats since Terry McAuliffe's election as governor in 2013. But with a two-to-one majority in the House of Delegates, and a two-seat advantage in the Senate that was reconfirmed in this month's legislative elections, Republicans have been able to prevent the issue from advancing.

Source: AMI Newswire on 2017 Virginia governor's race Oct 20, 2015

Pete Snyder: Medicaid expansion bad for taxpayers, those pushed into it

Medicaid expansion is a ticking time bomb for Virginia taxpayers. The Heritage Foundation released a study showing that the costs to Virginia taxpayers would skyrocket by over $900 million in less than ten years, once the "free" federal money dries up. But beyond the fiscal crisis it would create, expanding Medicaid under ObamaCare would also push hundreds of thousands of Virginians into a government-run health care program that we all know is badly broken and in need of serious reforms. Source: BearingDrift.com on 2021 Virginia Governor race Jan 28, 2020

Jack Ciattarelli: OpEd: Youngkin opposed to ACA and expanding access

Glenn Youngkin has railed against Governor Northam's efforts to protect the Affordable Care Act and expand access to health care for Virginians, making his opposition to the ACA and its critical protections clear. Source: Blue Virginia press release:2021 Virginia Governor race Feb 1, 2021

Jennifer Carroll Foy: Lower prescription costs; stop pharma price gouging

[On drug cost]: "I'll never forget sitting at the table trying to decide if we were going to pay for our mortgage that month or medicine," Carroll Foy explained of caring for her quadriplegic grandmother. "I wanted to make sure that no other person had to make this impossible decision." As governor, she plans to work to lower prescription costs, hold pharmaceutical companies accountable for price gouging and seek ways to help local governments in programs that aid their constituents. Source: Charlottesville Tomorrow on 2021 Virginia Governor race Feb 16, 2021

Corey Stewart: Full repeal of ObamaCare

"There's an appetite for a Republican fighter. They're looking for a vicious, ruthless, Republican, conservative fighter," Stewart said. He plans to support conservative Sens. Ted Cruz, Mike Lee, Ron Johnson and Rand Paul and call for a full repeal of the Affordable Care Act. Source: CNN.com on 2018 Virginia Senate race Jul 13, 2017

Nick Freitas: Wants all government restrictions taken out of health care

What we need to do is remove government imposed restrictions and fees that have increased health care costs while quality and access have decreased. By allowing more competition in the market place and greater customer input into health plans, we will be able to ensure that all Virginians have access to quality health care. We have worked in the General Assembly to remove these restrictions which have been proven to help individual citizens select plans that work best for their specific needs. Source: Culpeper Star Exponent on 2018 Virginia Senate race Oct 26, 2017

Ralph Northam: Expand Medicare, address racial disparities of pandemic

Some of his recent actions included calling for Northam to take stricter measures to curb the spread of COVID-19 throughout Virginia in mid-March and requesting a task force to address the racial disparities of the pandemic in mid-May. Fairfax's campaign will focus on "justice, fairness and opportunity" for all Virginians as well as on Medicaid expansion, police reform and increased education spending. Source: Duke Chronicle on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race Sep 30, 2020

Jennifer Carroll Foy: Ensure doulas are covered by Medicaid

Carroll Foy feels strongly that her pain was dismissed because she's a Black woman. It's a well-documented phenomenon: doctors dismissing the pain of Black patients in general due to racial biases. Black women are 243% more likely to die in childbirth or from pregnancy-related conditions than white women. She wants to ensure doulas are covered by Medicaid, so low-income black mothers will always have someone advocating for them.

[Definition of "doula " from DONA.org, downloaded Feb. 2021]: A doula is a trained professional who provides continuous physical, emotional and informational support to a mother before, during and shortly after childbirth to help her achieve the healthiest, most satisfying experience possible.

Source: Elle Magazine on 2021 Virginia gubernatorial race Feb 16, 2021

Jennifer Wexton: Expanded Medicaid to 300,000 Virginians in the coverage gap

Q: What do you propose to ensure high quality, affordable and accessible health care for all Americans?

Jennifer T. Wexton: I believe access to affordable healthcare is a right for all Americans. In the State Senate, I have fought alongside fellow Democrats to expand Medicaid to the more than 300,000 hardworking Virginians who fall in the coverage gap, and to bring over $10 billion back to Virginia's economy. In Congress, I will fight to protect coverage for those with preexisting conditions, eliminate lifetime caps, fund the Children's Health Insurance Program, and keep Medicare and Medicaid strong and accessible. I support allowing the Federal government to negotiate prescription drug prices, and am open to exploring the feasibility of plans like Tim Kaine's Medicare X which would allow any person to buy a health care plan from Medicare at a reasonable cost.

Source: League of Women Voters: 2018 Virginia voting records Sep 9, 2018

Corey Stewart: Oppose ObamaCare

Q: Do you support or oppose the statement, "Expand ObamaCare"?

A: Strongly Oppose

Source: OnTheIssues interview of 2018 Virginia Senate candidate May 18, 2018

Amanda Chase: Has fought against Medicaid expansion in Virginia

She noted that she has fought against Medicaid expansion in Virginia. "Medicaid was designed, originally, to help people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, not able-body people. It's to help people who can least help themselves," she said. "It is a Trojan horse that Virginia is ultimately going to have to pay the price for. Currently, the federal government is footing the bill for most of it, but not for much longer. And Virginians are going to have to pick the tab up." Source: Smith Mountain Eagle on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial race Nov 25, 2020

Ralph Northam: No family should be one illness away from financial demise

Q: You have been a vocal proponent of expanding Medicaid. Virginia Republicans continue to reject expansion.

A: That's something that I have worked on since we were eligible to expand Medicaid. No family should be one medical illness away from financial demise. That's what we are doing to Virginians right now by not expanding Medicaid. There are close to 400,000 WORKING Virginians who don't have access to health care. They end up receiving their care in the emergency room. It is not the place for preventative care. It's very expensive. Every day that Virginia doesn't expand Medicaid, we're not only leaving it on the table, but we're giving to other states we compete with over $5 million a day. Since January 2014, we've given up [billions] to surrounding states. That's money that we'll never get back.

Source: The American Prospect on 2017 Virginia gubernatorial race May 3, 2017

Glenn Youngkin: A "sad thing" that Medicaid was expanded under Obamacare

At times, though, he's unequivocal. Youngkin said earlier this year it was "a sad thing" that Medicaid was expanded in Virginia under the Affordable Care Act, aka Obamacare. Source: Virginia Mercury on 2021 Virginia Governor race Dec 11, 2020

Justin Fairfax: COVID: urged bold and swift actions in response to pandemic

Lt. Gov. Justin Fairfax is asking Gov. Ralph Northam to take "bolder and swifter actions" to mitigate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the state. In a letter to the governor, Fairfax said Virginia should mandate closures of restaurants, bars, theaters and gyms, close all schools for the rest of the academic year, suspend state and local tax payments for 120 days and hold a special General Assembly session within the next month to allow state legislators to adopt emergency measures. Source: Virginia Mercury on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial debate Mar 19, 2020

Justin Fairfax: Cast tiebreaking vote for Medicaid expansion

Fairfax walked a fine line between all the other candidates, both pledging to fight for Virginians and touting his ability to work with everyone in his role as president of the Senate. He said that his proudest moment was casting a tiebreaking vote for Medicaid expansion in the Senate in 2018 and that he had been an early advocate for closing schools as the coronavirus pandemic broke last year. Source: Washington Post on 2021 Virginia Gubernatorial debate Apr 6, 2021

Daniel Gade: Let people buy and sell health insurance across state lines

As far as health care, Gade said there needs to be protection for people with pre-existing conditions when they shift insurance companies from one to another. He also said there is a need for people to be able to sell and buy health insurance across state lines "so that insurance companies aren't just competing in their own little basket but having to compete against a whole bunch of other insurance companies. So you can help drive down costs." Source: Winchester Star on 2020 Virginia Senate race May 4, 2020