To the Editor:
State Delegate Ken Plum’s latest commentary on Medicaid expansion (“Political Prospects for Medicaid Expansion,” The Connection, June 4) is not the first time he has written on the subject, but he has yet to explain how Virginia would pay for this.
If one understands the proposal correctly, the federal government will fund the program using “federal funds” (a euphemism for taxpayer dollars) the first two years, with Virginia then starting to pick up increasingly larger shares of the program in out years. Virginia’s tab would start with 10 percent of the cost after the first two “teaser” years paid by those Federal funds and then progressively increase.
Given Governor McAuliffe’s own previously announced multi-year deficit of $2.4 billion, $882 million over the next two years, and potential state employee lay-offs, where would that money come from—even for the ten percent? Law enforcement? Education? Transportation? Higher taxes? What happens when the Medicaid expansion becomes a line item in the Virginia budget for perpetuity?
As a delegate, Del. Plum has fiduciary and fiscal responsibility to manage the budget for all Virginians. Those favoring a Medicaid expansion in the State—predominantly Democrats—who write such commentaries, do not discuss cost specifics—i.e., how to pay for it—when it would become a permanent line item in the Virginia budget. Currently, commendable altruism exceeds the reality of the balance in the state’s checkbook—as confirmed by Governor McAuliffe’s own projections. Republican-led fiscal prudence and fiduciary responsibility on this issue is the correct course of action for Virginia.
Chris J. Krisinger
Colonel, USAF (Ret)
Burke
Editor’s note: Virginia’s contribution would be capped at 10 percent.