Virginia Republicans reject Medicaid expansion

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Republican lawmakers in Virginia rejected another bid to expand Medicaid, saying the cost of providing new health coverage to thousands of poor adults would cripple the state.

The House of Delegates voted against Medicaid expansion Wednesday as lawmakers reconvened for a one-day session to consider Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s amendments and vetoes.

While many of McAuliffe’s proposed amendments were rejected, Republicans were unable to overturn any of the governor’s vetoes.

Here’s a look at notable actions taken Wednesday:

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MEDICAID AND BUDGET:

After President Donald Trump’s attempt to overhaul health care last month failed, McAuliffe renewed his longstanding push for Medicaid expansion and proposed a budget amendment that would give him the power to do so. The governor said Republicans had run out of reasons to block Medicaid expansion.

Thirty-one states have expanded their Medicaid programs under the Affordable Care Act, including some with Republican governors.

But Virginia Republicans have held firm against expansion. They said the state’s current Medicaid program is already growing at an unsustainable rate and expanding it would be fiscally irresponsible, even with the federal government covering most of the expansion costs.

McAuliffe said he was disappointed with the vote.

“While Republicans continue to play politics with the health of our residents, we will continue to investigate every available option to expand Medicaid in Virginia,” he said in a statement.

The governor also lost out on other budget amendments. A bipartisan group of lawmakers rejected McAuliffe’s proposal to cut funding by $5 million for a 2019 commemoration of the 400th anniversary of the 1619 founding of the House of Burgesses at Jamestown and other parts of the state’s colonial past.

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DEATH RECORDS

Legislators also voted to give family members greater access to law enforcement records in completed investigations into unattended deaths.

The Senate on Wednesday rejected an amendment from McAuliffe that would have allowed relatives to request only the summary of such investigations under the Freedom of Information Act.

Supporters said the measure would help bring closure to families of people who die of suicides or overdoses. Opponents said it could hinder investigations by releasing too much information in drug-related deaths or add to families’ suffering.

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ALEXANDRIA SEWAGE:

Virginia lawmakers also rejected McAuliffe’s proposal to give Alexandria more time to fix an infrastructure issue that sends millions of gallons of untreated sewage into the Potomac River.

Part of Alexandria’s sewer system gets overwhelmed during almost any type of wet weather, sending untreated waste into nearby waterways and on to the Potomac River many times each year.

Many lawmakers felt the wealthy city wasn’t moving quickly enough to address the problem.

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HOT-BUTTON ISSUES:

The one-day session provided little surprises, with the outcome of most votes easily predicted. But it did give both parties the opportunities to showcase key issues in an election year, in which all three statewide offices and all 100 House of Delegates seats are up for grabs.

Several hot-button social issues were the topic of lengthy floor speeches, including immigration and gun laws.

McAuliffe lost a bid to reinstate a law limiting gun sales to one handgun a month, but his vetoes aimed at limiting who can carry concealed handguns were upheld.

Republicans were unable to overturn any of McAuliffe’s 40 vetoes, including his rejection of legislation that would have increased scrutiny of welfare beneficiaries and banned localities from restricting the enforcement of federal immigration laws.