RICHMOND, VA – Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), Caucus Chairman Tim Hugo (R-Fairfax) and Majority Whip Jackson Miller (R-Manassas) issued the following statement on the Medicaid Expansion proposal presented to the Senate Finance Committee Thursday:

“This proposal is simply ObamaCare’s Medicaid expansion by a different name. It relies on borrowed money and empty promises from the federal government. We have been very clear that we do not think any plan that accepts federal funds is good policy. Betting the fiscal future of the Commonwealth on an I.O.U. from Washington is a bad idea.

“The Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission is still in the process of identifying, implementing and measuring a series of reforms that will bend the Medicaid cost curve and improve the quality of care. The MIRC should be allowed to continue its work, we should conduct a comprehensive audit of Medicaid and we should look very carefully at the long-term costs before moving forward.

“This is a very complex issue with many moving parts. It would be irresponsible to rush Medicaid expansion like Congress rushed ObamaCare. The Virginia way means taking a long view and exercising great caution before making major policy decisions. This plan demonstrates neither.”