Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) on Friday vetoed language that Republican lawmakers included in the state budget earlier this year that would prevent him from expanding Medicaid without legislative approval, according to The Washington Post.
Brian Coy, spokesman for Gov. McAuliffe, said the governor has no immediate intentions of expanding Medicaid in Virginia, suggesting the veto was meant to protect his constitutional agency rather than broaden the federal healthcare program for the state's poor.
At the same time, Mr. Coy indicated Gov. McAuliffe is once again exploring the possibility of working around the General Assembly, which is staunchly opposed to expanding Medicaid in the state. Gov. McAuliffe promised in his campaign he would expand the program when he was elected in 2013.
"We have no action to announce at this time, but we're going to continue to evaluate how to bring this money home," said Mr. Coy, referring to federal tax dollars that would fund most of the $2 billion per year cost of an expansion, according to the report.
Republicans called Gov. McAuliffe's veto of the particular language in the budget a "purported veto," noting he lacks the power to reject the passage he nixed. House Speaker William J. Howell (R) pointed to Virginia Supreme Court rulings that said the governor must eliminate a budget item in its entirety when he vetoes it, and that he lacks the power to strike conditions or restrictions that apply to an item, according to the report.
Gov. McAuliffe is arguing the anti-expansion language in the bill applies to the entire $100 billion budget, not just Medicaid.
"By conditioning all appropriations in the budget on [the language], the Governor's ability to issue a line-item veto is removed," Gov. McAuliffe said in a statement, according to The Washington Post. "I object to . . . [the condition], yet I am unable to reject it without also rejecting all of the monies appropriated in this $100 billion budget bill."
According to The Washington Post, Gov. McAuliffe could sue to try to force the veto of the language be reflected in the final law, and Republicans would almost certainly fight back if he takes action to expand Medicaid.