One of the biggest topics spoken throughout Virginia’s capital city is the state of Richmond …
Facebook-Driven Privacy Legislation Top Priority After Zuckerberg Hearing
After the Zuckerberg hearing, Congress is now looking at further privacy legislation to regulate Facebook practices with all roads leading to the FTC.
Democrats In Revolt As Workfare Requirements Dawn On Progressives
Delegate Sam Rasoul (D-Roanoke) took to the floor of the Virginia House of Delegates today to oppose the imposition of workfare across the board for Medicaid recipients, a feature of the Republican-brokered health care expansion package that would require every able-bodied person accepting Medicaid to seek employment… or lose their taxpayer handout.
What is clear now is that the reform package that blends the best of the Indiana block grants passed by then-Governor Mike Pence with the work requirements included by Kentucky Governor Matt Bevin has finally dawned on Democrat insurgents on the progressive left — with a handful now refusing to support the conservative form of expanding healthcare.
The plan will impose a work requirement which forces recipients to work if they are able bodied before receiving any benefits. The new plan also says if a person goes three months with out working, they will be locked out of coverage.
Of course, this confounds Democratic aspirations to simply put more people on a government-subsidized plan by introducing reforms similar to the workfare requirements brokered by U.S. Speaker Newt Gingrich with welfare reform back in 1995.
With Democrats on the verge of open revolt, all eyes turn on the Virginia Senate, where State Senator Emmett Hanger (R-Augusta) is signalling openness to the House budget provided hospitals are not taxed indiscriminately to the point of passing costs down to the consumer.
As it stands now, the sticking point of “who pays” and “how” are the two hurdles yet to be cleared. Treating Virginia’s already hard pressed hospitals like a statewide piggy bank akin to the Virginia Lottery system — where 50% of every dollar was supposed to go to education — is now the sticking point.
Should hospitals be able to manage their own costs and reimbursement for healthcare expansion, a compromise is most certainly in sight. Linked to conservative reforms that prioritize work requirements? We might have a one-two punch of closing the coverage gap and increasing labor force participation across the entire system — the very definition of compromise.
While Democrats privately seethe at workfare requirements across Medicaid, the very real possibility of closing the coverage gap while reforming entitlements is there.
Speaker Cox Visits CHHS, Talks Grant Funding For School Security
Speaker of the House Kirk Cox visited Colonial Heights High School and talked plans of grant funding for divisions to ramp up students security.
Lack Of School Funding Overshadowed By Medicaid Expansion
As lawmakers are back in Richmond to deal with Medicaid expansion, the lack of school funding will also become a budgetary discussion.
Underrepresented Entrepreneurs Targeted By VA Venture Capital Program
As Virginia builds the economy for the 21st century, a new venture capital program will target investments made by underrepresented entrepreneurs.
Wexton’s Attempt To Slam Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Fails Miserably
State Senator Jennifer Wexton shows she knows absolutely nothing about taxes when her attempts to slam the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act fails miserably.
April 22-28 Is High School Student Voter Registration Week In Virginia
As the midterm election season is in full effect, Virginia’s High School Student Voter Registration Week held April 22-28 will add to the electorate.
LINGAMFELTER: I’ve Been Thinking…
Scott Lingamfelter offers some reflections on what would have been his father’s 103rd birthday.
Let’s Make It Official: The Democrats Are Giving Up On VA-10
Democrats can neither settle on a front runner nor finance a credible opponent, which is why Democratic deep pockets might be giving up..