New Va. Gov. McAuliffe addresses lawmakers
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two days after taking the oath of office, Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe has emphasized the need to expand Medicaid eligibility in a speech to the state's General Assembly.
McAuliffe says in an advance copy of his address Monday evening that too many Virginians lack health coverage and the state cannot afford to forgo $2.1 billion in federal dollars for Medicaid expansion.
Leaders of the Republican-controlled House of Delegates have steadfastly rejected McAuliffe's overtures to expand Medicaid, saying that would ultimately be too costly for the state.
McAuliffe also says tolls are too high for drivers on Virginia's Midtown Tunnel Project linking Norfolk and Portsmouth. The new governor says he had directed the secretary of transportation to present a revised tolling rate schedule shortly.
