Virginia Legislators Harden Line Against Medicaid Expansion
And in Georgia, protesters are arrested after conducting a "sit in" at Gov. Nathan Deal's office to press him to accept a letter urging expansion of the state's Medicaid program.
The Washington Post: Va. House Members Say No To Medicaid Expansion
Senior members of Virginia’s House of Delegates declared Monday that eligibility for Medicaid will not be expanded this year, hardening their opposition to one of Gov. Terry McAuliffe’s top priorities for the legislative session. “I believe Medicaid expansion is not going to happen this year,” House Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford) said (Lars, 1/27).
Georgia Health News: Capitol Sit-In Over Medicaid Brings Arrests
State Sen. Vincent Fort (D-Atlanta) and nine other Moral Monday Georgia supporters were arrested inside Gov. Nathan Deal’s office Monday after refusing repeated police orders to leave. The demonstrators wanted Deal to accept their letter urging him to expand the state’s Medicaid program, as called for under the 2010 federal health reform law. Fort and the other protesters, who included members of the clergy, sat in the reception area of the governor’s office Monday afternoon while they waited for Deal, who never emerged. Outside, on the Capitol steps, about 50 people shouted their support for the protest group in Deal’s office (Craig, 1/27).