Yeah, I really don’t understand how Virginia Governor Terry McAuliffe thinks he can just blow off the General Assembly and unilaterally accept the Medicaid expansion his state is entitled to under the Affordable Care Act. He’s been making this threat from the beginning, but I have never grasped how it would work in practice.

It doesn’t seem like the governor is sure how to do it, either. Everyone is just exasperated that the Virginia GOP is being so obstinate on this point, but they do have the power to get their way.

Whatever plan that McAuliffe’s folks come up with, it’s supposed to be announced by September 1st. I suppose this is one example where the fact that Virginia’s governors cannot seek reelection is liberating. McAuliffe still needs to worry about getting impeached, but he doesn’t have any reason to particularly care what happens to his poll numbers. The people support his desire to expand Medicaid, but they may not support him acting like a king.

Should be interesting to watch what happens.