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Steve Burns
WMAL.com
RICHMOND – (WMAL) Before he leaves office in mid-January, Viriginia Governor Terry McAuliffe is revealing some details about his final budget proposal, set to include items that will likely see some debate: Medicaid expansion and increased funding for Metro. Both proposals are complicated by the uncertainty surrounding control of Virginia’s House of Delegates.
The Metro money is contingent on Maryland and the District also contributing more funds, and the two jurisdictions agreeing to a controversial proposal to shrink the size of the Metro Board of Directors, McAuliffe told reporters.
“We’re doing what we said we would do. It’s time for other jurisdictions to put up,” McAuliffe said. “Time to get in the game.”
Maryland Governor Larry Hogan made a similar proposal, but it was also contingent on the federal government contributing money. D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser sounded a suspicious tone on Hogan’s proposal, telling WMAL in a statement, “Our hurdle is to identify dedicated revenue that the agency can bond and bring Metro to a state of good repair. Anything short of that does not get us over the hurdle and to our priorities: safety, reliability and capacity.”
Bowser has repeatedly called for a region-wide penny-on-the-dollar sales tax that would fund Metro in perpetuity. Others have been noncommittal on the proposal.
McAuliffe maintained Virginia will be blameless if Metro does not get the money it needs.
“If you don’t do it, the responsibility of the failure of Metro will fall upon other jurisdictions, not Virginia,” he said. “It will not be Virginia’s fault.”
McAuliffe also said he will try one last time to expand Medicaid in Virginia. His previous effort was rebuffed by the Republican-controlled General Assembly.
“The gig’s up here. Enough’s enough,” he said. “It’s not going away. Congress tried to end (the Affordable Care Act). It’s not ending. You cannot justify to taxpayers that you’re forfeiting $6.6 million a day, $2.2 billion a year.”
McAuliffe noted two Republicans voted for Medicaid expansion during his last effort, “so at the worst case, we’re at 49 (votes),” he said, largely thanks to the significant Democratic gains in the General Assembly.
Those Election Day results are still in dispute. On Wednesday, the Virginia House Democratic Caucus announced recounts had been requested in two tight races – the 40th and 94th House Districts – and options are still being assessed in the hotly-contested 28th House District, which included nearly 150 voters receiving incorrect ballots, elections officials confirmed.
Should Democrats pick up a win in one of the three races, the House would be split 50-50 between Democrats and Republicans, which could mean gridlock. McAuliffe said he will be watching with glee during his final days in office.
“I can’t tell you what’s going to happen at that point,” McAuliffe said. “It is going to be a brawl. And the great news is I’m still governor. I’m there until the 13th. I’m going to be right there with popcorn and a Diet Coke, having a field day.”
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