McAuliffe Defies GOP: We're 'Moving Forward' With Obamacare Expansion

DYLAN SCOTT – JUNE 20, 2014, 12:23 PM EDT

Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) said on Friday that he planned to act administratively to expand Medicaid in his state under Obamacare, defying the Republican-controlled legislature that maneuvered to block him.

The specifics of McAuliffe's plan aren't clear. But he vetoed an item in the Virginia budget Friday that would have required the legislature to approve any expansion and asserted that he planned to "move administratively" to expand coverage to as many as 400,000 low-income Virginians.

"We are very encouraged," McAullife said at a news conference. His administration "has several options that we're looking at, but we're going to provide health coverage to our citizens," he added. "We're moving forward."

McAuliffe's unexpected announcement comes after months of drama over Medicaid expansion in Virginia. The state government had been barreling toward a shutdown after the House and Senate couldn't reach an agreement on a budget because of their disagreement on the issue.

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