Richmond, Va.—Virginia Organizing State Governing Board member Denise Smith responded to the Virginia House of Delegates proposal to include funding for “healthcare safety net” programs in the state budget today:

“This ridiculous non-solution to health care is a shame and a disgrace to all Virginians. About 400,000 hard-working Virginians need health care and are already paying for it with their federal tax dollars. The House of Delegates is proposing these same people pay with their state tax dollars to fund free clinics instead. I know from experience that free clinics only cover limited circumstances, and do not always cover necessary treatments. Free clinics are great, but they are not a substitute for primary care and health insurance. Virginians need real, quality, affordable health care. Virginians need Medicaid expansion, not a Band-Aid solution to real problems.

“Does the House of Delegates think Virginians won’t recognize that they are proposing we pay twice—once at the state level and once at the federal level—and still not even cover the 400,000 Virginians that would qualify for expansion? Do they really think that throwing extra Virginian tax dollars at free clinics will solve the problem of working people not having access to affordable health insurance?

“Virginia Organizing calls on the Virginia General Assembly to reject this terrible, incomprehensive plan and expand Medicaid for the working Virginians who are doing everything right, but being let down by political posturing against Obamacare.”

To interview a spokesperson for Virginia Organizing, please contact Amanda Pohl at 804-337-1912 or amanda@virginia-organizing.org.