A new poll from Christopher Newport University’s Center for Public Policy shows that a majority of Virginia voters oppose the Democrat-led effort to expand Medicaid in the Commonwealth. The state health program isn’t the only thing voters have soured on; Democrat Governor Terry McAuliffe’s approval rating now stands at 44 percent, down from a February poll that showed 53 percent of voters were optimistic about his governorship.
At 53 percent, and by a 12 point margin, Virginians say that they oppose Medicaid expansion. A February survey showed general support for Medicaid expansion, 56 percent to 38 percent. That’s a 15 point drop in support for expansion in two months.
The February poll dug deeper by asking respondents if they would still support expansion if Virginia had to spend more state money to cover a decreased share of the program paid for by the federal government and only 41 percent said they would. Republicans in the legislature have continued to warn (in unison) that a reliance on the federal government for a 90 percent match for Medicaid funds is unreasonable, given Washington’s debt and spending problem. As the pollsters point out: “Republican skepticism concerning expansion has gotten through to voters.”
