Gov. Ralph Northam had a blunt message for General Assembly budget negotiators on Friday — if they don’t send him a budget that would expand Virginia’s Medicaid program, he’ll propose an amendment that does.
Further, Northam said his proposed amendment to whatever budget the assembly sends him would look more like traditional Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act than the compromise he has negotiated with Republican leaders in the House of Delegates to include a work requirement and other conditions for benefits.
In a meeting with reporters at the Capitol on Friday, the governor also made clear that he prefers a budget resolution by the assembly’s scheduled adjournment next Saturday instead of when it reconvenes on April 18 or beyond.
