McAuliffe attached 104 amendments to former Gov. Bob McDonnell’s budget. They include a two-year PILOT program to enroll hundreds of thousands of additional Virginians in Medicaid. The Governor said he received federal assurance that the state CAN withdraw from this expansion in the future without penalties.
"It opens the door for pragmatic and balanced approach to closing the health care coverage gap that all sides should now find reasonable.”
His plan differs from the private-insurance option passed by the Senate and requires fewer federal waivers. That would release federal funds more quickly and free up state dollars that the Governor would use for a reserve fund for future Medicaid costs AND other items.
“I am providing a two-percent salary increase for all full-time state employees, SOQ-funded teachers and support personnel, college and university faculty, constitutional officers, and state-supported local employees.”
Other changes include 8.9 million dollars for mental health and 7.4 million in pre-K funding.