As we pass the halfway point for the state General Assembly, a new poll from Christopher Newport University reveals what many Virginians' think of this year's hot topics. Virginians, like their lawmakers, are divided on issues of gun control, medicaid expansion, and gay rights.
Governor McAuliffe and GOP lawmakers struck a deal on gun control early in the session -- allowing voluntary background checks at gun shows, while expanding concealed carry rights.
Quentin Kidd, a political scientist at Christopher Newport University, says the compromise reflects Virginians’ conflicted views.
"With a slight, I say this -- ever so slight -- lean toward gun control over protecting gun rights,” said Kidd.
What legislators haven't managed to strike a deal on yet is medicaid expansion.
Hospitals’ have volunteered to take on some of the financial burden of expansion, but that hasn’t eased Republican fears that the federal government could pull away, leaving Virginians to foot a very large bill.
"A very similar percentage of Virginians, somewhere between 60 and 65-percent, say they worry about that,” Kidd said. "And so, what we find is this contrast in Virginia, a strong majority of people want to expand medicaid, but a strong majority of people also worry about the fiscal consequences."
One topic where legislative action seems out of touch with public opinion is on the matter of gay rights. A bill that would allow businesses to refuse services to gay and lesbian couples passed the House Tuesday by a narrow margin.
“Virginia voters do not support that,” Kidd said. “Fifty-seven percent oppose that legislation, 36-percent support it. As you can imagine there’s a pretty stark partisan and ideological divide.”
Even if that bill makes it through the Senate though, Governor McAuliffe has made it clear he won’t sign it into law.
