Statement of House Republican Leadership and Chairman S. Chris Jones on Senator Hanger’s budget proposal

Virginia House of Delegates Speaker William J. Howell (R-Stafford), Majority Leader Kirk Cox (R-Colonial Heights), Republican Caucus Chairman Timothy D. Hugo (R-Fairfax), Majority Whip Jackson Miller (R-Manassas), Deputy Majority Leader Todd Gilbert (R-Shenandoah) and House Appropriations Committee Chairman S. Chris Jones (R-Suffolk) released the following statement Thursday on Senator Emmett Hanger’s budget proposal:

“Senator Hanger has made a productive offer that leaves us encouraged about the prospects of reaching an agreement on the state budget. He acknowledges the need to separate Medicaid expansion from budget deliberations in order to facilitate the prompt passage of a state budget, recognizes the need for continued reforms before we consider expansion, and emphasizes that any attempt by the Governor to spend money from the state treasury absent a budget law or to expand Medicaid without the legislature’s approval would be totally unacceptable. We will take a very close look at the proposal and immediately begin talking with Senator Hanger.”