BREAKING: 99% of Virginians Support Medicaid Expansion

Makes a nice attention grabber, but you have no particular reason to believe those numbers do you? No.

A ploy for readers is one thing, but in reality Governor McAuliffe really has been searching high and low for someone, anyone, who will tell him what he wants to hear about Medicaid; and what he got was as good as anyone could do, given reality. Murky at best, and a heaping disappointment at heart.

Common Good Virginia PAC(Terry's own) sponsored a poll on Obamacare's Medicaid Expansion that showed 52% support the measure. Shocking. Terry McAuliffe, whose PAC is unashamedly selling access RIGHT NOW, is now trying to buy approval.

But the real story is that number. 52% is a slim margin, and as soon as it leaked, the Administration was stumbling over itself to try to keep the genie in the bottle, to no avail. Michael Martz of the Richmond Times-Dispatch reports; full article here.

"But, wait! 52% is a majority!" said the imaginary devil's advocate. Well, fine. But where did that number come from? What makes it pitiful is that the total is probably very massaged. A convenient, Democrat-leaning sample, left-leading question formation, and and the obvious implication that the PAC paying for the poll wanted to hear what they wanted to hear are all factors. For all that, 2%? The memo referenced in the article didn't even call it a majority.

RPV Chairman Pat Mullins: “If I was going to buy a poll to back my position on a public policy issue, I’d at least pay for 60 percent of people to agree with me.” 

You will notice that last month's CNU poll showing 53% of Virginians oppose expansion. While controversial, it was at least independent. Democrats backflipped in anger over that one, regardless. So, I will be interested to see who cherry picks this new number for their talking points and conveniently "forgets" to mention the context in which it was bought.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Jonesing for Some Cash

The major deal, that has the potential to lift DPVA out of crushing debt(who'd've thunk it?), could also be put in textbooks nationwide as a per se example of conflict of interest. Further down the dirty road, the money to buy DPVA HQ will be coming directly from the taxpayers.

"Why," the aforementioned taxpayer may ask, "is this situation so unexplainably intertwined?"

The Mayor/DPVA Chairman has been refusing interviews about any involvement in Richmond buying DPVA headquarters, even though there is a supposed "firewall" between he and the negotiations. Why so reticent?

Because Mayor/Chairman Jones is a person, not a computer virus. There really is no way to fully separate him from this. Jones LEADS both of the participants in this deal. He is the man on the line when it comes to the financial health (or lack thereof) of his party, and the fiscal responsibility of his city; and whether he is in the meeting room or not, the results will tend toward the same.  

Wouldn't you just want to bet that the bid to buy DPVA HQ will beat the median offer, and take a speedy trip through their hands to put a dent in that (again) CRUSHING debt. 600k is not a petty, ignorable amount, and they likely see this as a way to make it disappear overnight. How very convenient....

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com 

New Poll: McAuliffe's Medicaid "Mandate" is Imaginary

The new numbers show that support for Governor McAuliffe's hostage-style budget stand off over Medicaid is flying like a rock. Among Virginia's Independents there has been a complete reversal of opinion since February (from 55 support/39 oppose to 35 support/55 oppose according to CNU).

This spring has given folks time to think about the millions and millions of dollars that Obamacare Expansion will end up costing them, and time to decide that they don't want it. Read the article here, from the Richmond Times-Dispatch's Jim Nolan.

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com

Sen's Lucas and Howell, We are With You

The face of care and compassion

If I said Sean Connaughton's re-entry into Virginia politics was divisive, well, I would be wrong. Seemingly we can all look at one another in agreed shock. The Virginia Hospital and Healthcare Association (VHHA) last week made a questionable choice on their new executive director position.

It is not often that this blog comes to stand with Senate Dems, but Senators Howell and Lucas both contributed to this Washington Post article by Laura Vozzella with their (well founded) doubts about Mr. Connaughton's supposed role at the VHHA.

Rather than defer to a doctor, hospital administrator, or public figure dedicated to healthcare, they chose a divisive former port director and transportation administrator?

"But," said (figuratively) everyone, "But, really? Him?"

VA GOP Caucus

vagopcaucus.blogspot.com