McAuliffe Will Turn Down Trump Appointment, Focus on Jobs

by Dan Sullivan

When John Fredericks told Governor McAuliffe he’d recommended him to Donald Trump as Secretary of Commerce, McAuliffe responded that he’s not leaving office early for anything. He might rethink that after this legislative session, but for now he’s focused on jobs, Medicaid expansion, public safety, and invigorating Virginia's exports.

On a recent visit to Virginia Trump, answering a question from the press, remarked that he thinks Terry is a great Governor. It seems that John Fredericks agrees, at least as far as the Governor’s enthusiastic efforts getting companies to come to Virginia and creating jobs. In fact, with the exception of Executive Order 50, Fredericks seems to be a fan himself and said as much in an interview Friday.

On two issues that are related, Medicaid expansion and Certificates of Public Need (COPN), Fredericks’ and McAuliffe’s positions appeared to intersect as do the interests of Virginians on both. Unfortunately, Republican members of the General Assembly have placed politics above the interests of their constituents. Fredericks summed up the two sides of the COPN repeal argument: opponents say repeal would weaken the healthcare system; proponents say it would promote competition. McAuliffe pointed out that he requested the Task Force that is studying COPN. Medicaid expansion or the lack thereof is an essential factor in the design.

The Obstinate Virginia GOP View of Medicaid

by Dan Sullivan

The attacks on Medicaid expansion have begun and will intensify as the General Assembly session gets underway. We should wait, they argue, until Medicaid is reformed. By that argument, we should close down healthcare totally. It is service delivery that is broken and demands reform, not the bill payers.

Somehow Medicaid recipients are to blame for doctors who bill for procedures never performed, pharmaceutical companies that raise prescription prices because they know insurance will cover “negotiated” costs, insurance companies that create twisted access structures that are a barrier to treatment and that maximize profits, companies that price medical record software to gouge tax credits, and accountants and clerks who embezzle revenues. Yes, your tired, your poor, your huddled Virginians yearning, no desperate, for care are relegated to emergency rooms one way or another where a single visit might be billed at a rate greater than the annual cost of a full year of Medicaid preventative care. And all of this the recipients’ fault, so cut them off.

Oh, and we are to suppose none of this ever happens in the private sector to for-profit health insurance companies. Get a grip, Republicans, you used to be the party of business but you’ve become the party of busybodies.

Sunday we were treated to a litany of situated arguments about why Medicaid should not be expanded in a piece designed to play well with the “f&#@ you, I’ve got mine” crowd. Seven reasons without real reason. Keep in mind, there is not a footnote or reference in the column.