Bill Carrico on Virginia's Budget

From Virginia's State Senator Bill Carrico:

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State Budget Update

Last week at Virginia’s Capitol, the House and Senate approved their respective versions of the Commonwealth’s 2018-2020 Biennial Budget. . As many news accounts reported, those two budgets take very different approaches to funding Virginia’s priorities over the next two years. I want to tell you a few facts about the Senate plan, for which I voted. The Senate budget plan provides over $565 million in funding for our public schools. Responding to the Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission’s (JLARC) report on Improving Early Childhood Development Programs in Virginia, the Senate plan increases per pupil funding for the Virginia Preschool Initiative. To advance economic development and job creation, the plan provides funding for a new custom workforce recruitment and training incentive program at the Virginia Economic Development Partnership. It prioritizes expanding broadband access, devoting $8 million over the two-year period to that goal. It also invests additional $1.4 million in the Enterprise Zone program for job creation in high unemployment areas like Southwest Virginia. The Senate plan also prioritizes healthcare (see more below). Its behavioral health package spends $73 million over two years. The plan expands same-day access at Community Services Boards, includes support for diversion programs, and provides the funds for 56 new beds at Western State Hospital. It also adds 825 waiver slots for intellectually and developmentally disabled Virginians. Why, then, are some claiming that the Senate budget “cuts” spending? It is because the Senate budget is not being compared to the current budget, but to the budget proposed by former Governor McAuliffe as he was leaving office. And, the McAuliffe budget was built upon the inflated revenues that accompany Obamacare Medicaid expansion. Doing this gave McAuliffe the opportunity to highlight dramatic increases in government spending just as he was planning to spend a lot more time with Democrat activists in Iowa and New Hampshire. The Senate budget is a conservative budget, entirely consistent with Virginia’s long-standing record of producing balanced budgets with the funds we have. Conservative, however, is not the same as severe. Our public schools will be receiving more money over the next two years than they did over the last two. The same applies to public safety and law enforcement, healthcare, and higher education.

My Thoughts on Medicaid Expansion & Health Care

The Senate has approved legislation this session that will make healthcare and health coverage more affordable – without expanding Medicaid. In an editorial this week, even the Richmond Times-Dispatch called the Senate’s healthcare package “good ideas for health care.” More than any other issue, healthcare has dominated the media coverage of the 2018 session. Specifically, Governor Northam’s efforts to adopt Obamacare’s optional Medicaid expansion. Under Obamacare, Medicaid, which was designed to be a healthcare safety net for impoverished children and mothers, the disabled, and some who needed long-term care, would be extended to able-bodied adults as a substitute for insurance. Senate Republicans are taking a very different approach. We are advancing a healthcare package of our own, one focused on lowering the cost of coverage and the cost of care. With affordability a top priority, we approved several bills that will increase insurance choice for areas with only one carrier, expand the low-cost catastrophic care coverage option, and increase the number of waivers for intellectually and developmentally disabled Virginians. Senate Bill 844 would allow more Virginians to opt for less expensive “short term” coverage plans. It would also place requirements on health insurers to offer plans in more areas of Virginia. The bill will help to reduce costs and expand options for consumers. Senate Bill 935 would expand the availability of group insurance plans, allowing more Virginians to participate in insurance “pools.” Senate Bill 964 would allow more Virginians to qualify for catastrophic health coverage plans, which provide essential health benefits. These plans are a lot less expensive than the plans available on the exchanges, but are currently available only to those under the age of 30. This legislation removes that age limit, making the plans more widely available – and bringing affordable coverage to more Virginians. Senate Bill 915 sets priorities for healthcare funding, including waivers for Intellectual and Developmentally Disabled Virginians. There is a current backlog for these waivers of more than 3,000. This bill also prioritizes funding to increased mental health and substance abuse treatment. Effectively, this bill is a roadmap to how Virginia should allocate and prioritize future healthcare expenditures. Our package has won widespread, bipartisan support. The four bills noted here were approved without a single dissenting vote in the Senate, a rare feat on an issue that has become very contentious. As your Senator, I believe it is part of my duty to make decisions that not only benefit Virginia and its people today, but also ensure a fiscally sound future. Considering all we know now, adopting Obamacare’s Medicaid expansion now would betray that responsibility. I am sticking with the Senate budget plan, which is conservative, sustainable, and fiscally responsible.

How Can I Serve You Better? It is an honor to represent Southwest Virginia, so I am always looking for ways to better serve you. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me with your questions, comments, and suggestions. You can contact my office by phone at 804.698.7540 or by email at district40@senate.virginia.gov.

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