State and National Government
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) _ Gov. Ralph Northam is renewing his call for the General Assembly to expand Medicaid to cover more low-income Virginians. During a press conference Wednesday, Northam unveiled the budget he will propose to lawmakers when they return for a special session in April. It includes language that would expand Medicaid. Lawmakers adjourned the regular session earlier this month without passing a budget due to an impasse between the House and Senate over Medicaid expansion. The House supported it while the Senate did not. Both chambers are controlled by Republicans. Northam, a Democrat, says his proposal will “guide the discussion,” but he’s open to working with both chambers. The state government will shut down on July 1 if no budget is passed.
Gun rights advocates say video of a Democratic congressional candidate in eastern Virginia sawing her husband’s AR-15 in half is evidence she committed two felonies. Details from WFIR’s Ian Price:
The original video of Karen Mallard sawing the gun in half can be found here
It didn’t receive a lot of attention at the time, but a proposal that would create an additional gas tax for areas along Interstate 81 made it half-way through the General Assembly this year. It would create an additional two-point-one per cent gas tax for cities and counties along the interstate corridor. It passed the Senate, but the House continued any consideration until next year. More from WFIR’s Evan Jones:
Photo: Va Senate
State Senator Dave Suetterlein joined WFIR for a wide-ranging live conversation this morning on subjects that varied from the current state budget impasse to a proposal calling for creation of a regional gas tax devoted specifically to I-81 improvements. Here is the conversation:
(Note: one brief portion was deleted over bad audio quality.)
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Two contenders for the Republican U.S. Senate nomination in Virginia clashed Saturday in the first debate of the primary race. Corey Stewart, a candidate for governor last year, and state Del. Nick Freitas of Culpeper squared off in a debate before the Virginia Tea Party in Richmond. The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that Stewart, chairman of the Prince William Board of County Supervisors, tried to portray Freitas as politically inexperienced. He said Democratic U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine would “chew him up and spit him out.” Freitas said Stewart has divided the Republican Party and has “some problems with the truth from time to time.”
Kaine is seeking a second term in the Senate after his 2016 loss in the presidential election as Hillary Clinton’s running mate. Stewart and Freitas are the only two candidates so far who have submitted enough signatures to qualify for the June 12 GOP primary ballot. The deadline is March 29. Freitas defeated Stewart in a straw poll of 217 people at the Tea Party’s spring conference. Freitas drew 65 percent to 35 percent for Stewart, according to Tea Party chairman Rick Buchanan.
On stage, both two candidates supported the tax cut signed by President Donald Trump last year and called for cuts in federal spending. Both called for stronger enforcement efforts against illegal immigration and both agreed with Trump’s concept of building a wall on the U.S. border with Mexico. Stewart said he’s not afraid of getting into the gutter to fight Democrats and can stand up to Republican leadership when needed. Freitas spoke of his 11 years in the military, including two overseas combat tours, and said he wanted to focus on the power of the individual, not the government.
One day after students around the country marched out of classrooms to protest gun violence in schools, Virginia’s junior U.S. Senator spoke out on what he called “common-sense legislation.” More from WFIR’s Gene Marrano:
A Roanoke-area state senator is not sounding any indications that Republicans in his body are ready to accept Medicaid expansion as part of a budget agreement. This comes as Governor Northam has scheduled a special General Assembly session. Senator David Suetterlein says Medicaid expansion should be voted on separately — and not be included as part of the overall budget process. WFIR’s Evan Jones has the story:
Gov. Terry McAuliffe
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) – Former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe is scheduled to be the University of Richmond’s commencement speaker.
The school announced Tuesday that McAuliffe will give the May 13 address.
McAuliffe left office earlier this year and is often mentioned as a possible Democratic presidential hopeful in 2020. He is a vocal critic of President Donald Trump.
The former governor is currently helping raise money for National Democratic Redistricting Committee and has said he plans to help elect Democratic governor’s nationwide this year.