Five Million Dollars a Day
Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
http://reston.patch.com/groups/kenneth-r-ken-plums-blog/p/five-million-dollars-a-day

Virginia taxpayer dollars not returned to them has amounted to five million dollars each day since January 1, 2014, and will continue at that rate each day that Virginia refuses to expand its Medicaid program. In addition, at least 400,000 working Virginians will continue to be uninsured.

The 2013 session of the General Assembly created the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission (MIRC) to consider whether reforms to Virginia's Medicaid program were sufficient to allow Virginia to proceed with some form of coverage expansion through the Affordable Care Act. MIRC members have been assured by staff that all requested reforms have been made, but the Commission members from the House of Delegates have refused to acknowledge the reforms and continue along with the Speaker of the House of Delegates to oppose expansion of Medicaid. For otherwise fiscal conservatives to turn down five million dollars of Virginia taxpayer dollars being returned to them to pay the full cost of Medicaid expansion shows the continued animosity that some Republicans have toward the Affordable Care Act that they refer to as Obamacare. To the concern that the federal government will not be able to continue funding the program into the future, Virginia could make a decision to withdraw at that time.

At the same time, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce business plan for the Commonwealth, "Blueprint for Virginia," supports the Medicaid reforms that have been made and recommends Medicaid expansion. Chamber leadership has termed Medicaid expansion to be both an economic development as well as a workforce issue. Most of Virginia's one million uninsured residents are employed. It is projected that the expansion would create an estimated 33,000 jobs and bring $21 billion dollars back to the Commonwealth.

Governor Terry McAuliffe is a staunch supporter of Medicaid expansion. As he stated to the Chamber, "Let me be clear on one point. If Medicaid expansion is not the business community's number one priority in your communication with the General Assembly, it will not happen." He calls for "coming together, putting old ideological differences aside and focusing on what makes sense from a business perspective."

The case for Medicaid expansion goes beyond the strong business case; it is also a humanitarian cause. Social justice organizations, faith communities, and individuals need also to give priority to making their views known to legislators. Give priority to writing or calling House and Senate leadership and members of the House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees and ask them to approve the expansion of Medicaid. Contact information is available at House and Senate members.

Five million dollars a day is a lot of money. It is too much to turn down, especially when it can improve the health and well-being of Virginians. Please make sure your voice is heard on this issue.

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Virginia taxpayer dollars not returned to them has
> amounted to five million dollars each day since
> January 1, 2014, and will continue at that rate
> each day that Virginia refuses to expand its
> Medicaid program. In addition, at least 400,000
> working Virginians will continue to be uninsured.

It doesn't help that several companies in the area are doing layoffs.

As even shit-for-brains morons should know, some companies in the area are doing layoffs all the time. Some are doing hiring all the time. That's how things work. Invest in getting caught up with reality.

Honestly... Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> As even shit-for-brains morons should know, some
> companies in the area are doing layoffs all the
> time. Some are doing hiring all the time. That's
> how things work. Invest in getting caught up with
> reality.

This year it's different. My company is doing layoffs to offset costs from the new Obamacare initiative. Because their costs are going up, they have to cut costs around the company to make it "slimmer" and more "efficient".

???? Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> This year it's different. My company is doing
> layoffs to offset costs from the new Obamacare
> initiative. Because their costs are going up, they
> have to cut costs around the company to make it
> "slimmer" and more "efficient".

You've been fed a line of bullshit and bought it. Dumb ass.

Through the affordable care act, Feds will supplement additional state spending for Medicaid expansion. However, the subsidy only will last for two years. At conclusion of timeframe, state may continue to fund expansion via state dollars, or throw newly added Medicaid recipients out on the street. There is no way choice # 2 is going to happen. This is an ambush and would have a devastating financial impact on the taxpayers of Virginia. Hence, the reason for initial plan rejection.

Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> Five Million Dollars a Day
> Delegate Kenneth R. "Ken" Plum
> http://reston.patch.com/groups/kenneth-r-ken-plums
> -blog/p/five-million-dollars-a-day
>
> Virginia taxpayer dollars not returned to them has
> amounted to five million dollars each day since
> January 1, 2014, and will continue at that rate
> each day that Virginia refuses to expand its
> Medicaid program. In addition, at least 400,000
> working Virginians will continue to be uninsured.
>
> The 2013 session of the General Assembly created
> the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission
> (MIRC) to consider whether reforms to Virginia's
> Medicaid program were sufficient to allow Virginia
> to proceed with some form of coverage expansion
> through the Affordable Care Act. MIRC members have
> been assured by staff that all requested reforms
> have been made, but the Commission members from
> the House of Delegates have refused to acknowledge
> the reforms and continue along with the Speaker of
> the House of Delegates to oppose expansion of
> Medicaid. For otherwise fiscal conservatives to
> turn down five million dollars of Virginia
> taxpayer dollars being returned to them to pay the
> full cost of Medicaid expansion shows the
> continued animosity that some Republicans have
> toward the Affordable Care Act that they refer to
> as Obamacare. To the concern that the federal
> government will not be able to continue funding
> the program into the future, Virginia could make a
> decision to withdraw at that time.
>
> At the same time, the Virginia Chamber of Commerce
> business plan for the Commonwealth, "Blueprint for
> Virginia," supports the Medicaid reforms that have
> been made and recommends Medicaid expansion.
> Chamber leadership has termed Medicaid expansion
> to be both an economic development as well as a
> workforce issue. Most of Virginia's one million
> uninsured residents are employed. It is projected
> that the expansion would create an estimated
> 33,000 jobs and bring $21 billion dollars back to
> the Commonwealth.
>
> Governor Terry McAuliffe is a staunch supporter of
> Medicaid expansion. As he stated to the Chamber,
> "Let me be clear on one point. If Medicaid
> expansion is not the business community's number
> one priority in your communication with the
> General Assembly, it will not happen." He calls
> for "coming together, putting old ideological
> differences aside and focusing on what makes sense
> from a business perspective."
>
> The case for Medicaid expansion goes beyond the
> strong business case; it is also a humanitarian
> cause. Social justice organizations, faith
> communities, and individuals need also to give
> priority to making their views known to
> legislators. Give priority to writing or calling
> House and Senate leadership and members of the
> House Appropriations and Senate Finance Committees
> and ask them to approve the expansion of Medicaid.
> Contact information is available at House and
> Senate members.
>
> Five million dollars a day is a lot of money. It
> is too much to turn down, especially when it can
> improve the health and well-being of Virginians.
> Please make sure your voice is heard on this
> issue.


Medicaid is for deadbeats. I don't want my tax money being spent on the unproductive in society. Get a job that pays more then minimum wage and you won't need Medicaid.

With all the recent layoffs around the area, I wonder how much support those people will need.