As Session winds down, we turn our focus to the budget. House Appropriations Chairman, Del. Chris Jones said it best — we are so close, we could knock this out in a day or two. Sadly, the chairman and other Republicans are threatening to hold the budget, and the Commonwealth’s financial health, hostage unless the Senate caves to their demands that we give our hard-earned tax dollars up to other states and force 400,000 Virginians — many of whom are veterans and children — to continue to live in fear of getting sick because they don’t have health insurance.

I understand many in our Commonwealth believe expanding health care coverage to all our citizens, and accepting federal dollars to do so, is not the best course of action. However, I have been a strong advocate for Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act since the beginning. I fail to understand how we can accept upwards of 21 percent of our revenue funds from the federal government for defense, agriculture and other industries while rejecting billions for health care. Governor McDonnell first included health care expansion in his 2011 budget. He laid out a plan that would have closed the coverage gap with his proposed 2012-2014 budget. Governor McAuliffe made it clear in his State of the Commonwealth Address that he believes closing the coverage gap by expanding Medicaid is a moral and economic imperative. I completely agree. Many of the uninsured are children. By providing these children insurance and access to doctors, we give them a path to lifelong health. The uninsured will be able stop using the emergency room as their primary care. The constant use of ERs causes unnecessary burdens on the entire health care system. When families are handed outlandish bills they cannot pay, they default on their bills, face bankruptcy and losing their homes, simply because even though they work hard and pay their taxes, they are not offered health insurance through their employers and cannot afford it on their own.And who pays for these bills? All of us — the hospitals, people with insurance who see their premiums go up and businesses who must make the hard decision of whether or not to keep offering insurance for their employees. By accepting reality that the Affordable Care Act is the law of the land and coming up with a sensible solution we can stop these scenarios from happening and affecting our economy.The Virginia Chamber of Commerce is asking us to do something. The hospitals are asking us to do something. My constituents email and call me daily asking for us to find a solution. We need to keep our hard earned tax dollars in the state and working for the benefit of Virginians. Expanding Medicaid will expand our job base and economic opportunities. I’m hard pressed to remember a time this esteemed legislature argued against economic opportunities for Virginia. The Senate budget provides a market-based path toward accepting federal funds to close the coverage gap. It will serve as a foundation for covering more people and, over the biennium, will save the state $306 million. It could save as much as $1 billion over the next eight years. We must stop saying “no” and make sure that we hold the line with the Senate budget and include health care expansion. As always I am honored to represent the 36th senatorial district of Virginia and look forward to working hard for my constituents. Anyone with an issue or concern should contact my office in Richmond at district36@senate.virginia.gov or by phone: 804-698-7536. Toddy