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96th District, Virginia House of Delegates     April 4, 2014
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During Session:

General Assembly Building

Room 403

Capitol Square

Richmond, VA 23219

804-698-1096

[email protected]

 

  District Office:

1201 Jamestown Road

Williamsburg, VA 23185

757-223-9690

[email protected]

 

Please send all mail to:

P.O. Box 196

Norge, VA 23127
 
Legislative Aide
Amanda Johnston
On Monday, April 7, at 7:00 p.m., Senator Tommy Norment and I will hold a Town Hall Meeting in the theatre of the Williamsburg Regional Library located at 515 Scotland Street in the City of Williamsburg.

This forum will provide the opportunity to ask both of us questions about legislation that passed during the General Assembly session. Additionally, we will discuss the current status of Virginia's budget. 
Status Update: The Virginia Budget Standoff
As you are aware, the General Assembly failed to pass a budget prior to adjourning on March 8. The source of the impasse remains the decision regarding Obamacare's provision for Medicaid expansion. Although the General Assembly returned to Richmond last Monday, March 24, for a special session to discuss the budget, the Democrat-controlled Senate voted to adjourn until April 7. This decision, described by the Richmond Times Dispatch as "a shockingly irresponsible dereliction of duty" further impeded the passage of Virginia's budget.
What do Virginians REALLY want?
While the media remains focused on the political arguments surrounding Obamacare expansion, the following questions beg attention: what do Virginians really want? And how do the residents of our Commonwealth view Medicaid expansion as compared to other priorities?  

A March 26 Quinnipiac poll found that 19% of Virginians believe that Governor McAuliffe's and the General Assembly's top priority should be jobs and unemployment. An additional 12% of respondents prioritized education. A mere 4% felt that the focus should be on Medicaid. Want to read the results for yourself? Click HERE.
 
Additionally, I had the opportunity last night to participate in a Tele-Town Hall. Listeners were able to take three polls, the results of which sent a clear message to legislators. 
  • 90% of respondents did NOT support Medicaid expansion via Obamacare. 
  • 96% did not support using the threat of a Virginia government shutdown in order to expand Medicaid.
  • 69% have already had a negative experience with Obamacare.
Virginia's local elected officials also recognize that holding the budget hostage to Obamacare is fiscally irresponsible. As I've shared in earlier emails, the ongoing delay poses significant challenges for local governments and school boards working to finalize their budgets. For this reason, over 75 local governments, school boards and local government leaders from across the Commonwealth have passed resolutions petitioning Governor McAuliffe to exclude Medicaid expansion from budget negotiations and to pass a budget as soon as possible.  
Have you signed the petition?
Virginians have spoken, and they do NOT want the state budget held hostage to Medicaid expansion! Join your neighbors from throughout the Commonwealth in telling Governor McAuliffe to PASS THE BUDGET!

Click HERE to sign the petition asking the Governor to pass a clean budget that does not include Obamacare's Medicaid expansion.
Sincerely,
Signature  
Delegate Brenda Pogge

Paid for and Authorized by Brenda Pogge for Delegate