The regular session of the 2013 Virginia General Assembly winds down later this week, but some lawmakers won't let issues of women's health fall by the wayside.
The Women's Reproductive Health Caucus says it is committed to repealing legislation passed in 2012, including a law requiring a trans-abdominal ultrasound before an abortion. The caucus is also calling on lawmakers to approve Medicaid expansion in its forthcoming budget amendments.
"We have to have Medicaid expansion to get a budget," said Senator Barbara Favola. "The facts are too significant, it just makes too much sense not to do it."
Senate Democrats went further, saying they would use their 20 votes to block the approval of a budget without Medicaid expansion. Meanwhile Republicans say expansion is impossible without major state and federal reforms to the program beforehand.
Lawmakers must reach a compromise on proposed budget amendments by Saturday night.
