Virginia state Sen. Emmett Hanger blocked the last motion that would prevent a vote on Medicaid expansion in Virginia on Tuesday.
The motion, which would have prevented the Medicaid-expansion amendment from coming to the floor, was proposed by state Senate Majority Leader Tommy Norment.
“Just to be certain, I’m leaving,” Hanger, a Republican, said after he ruled the motion out of order.
Republicans and Democrats have been fighting for four years over whether or not to expand Medicaid under the Affordable Care Act, with Republicans generally against the measure.
The gains made by Democrats inspired several Virginia state lawmakers to flip their positions in favor of Medicaid expansion, allowing the measure to pass in the Senate. The state House already passed a budget that includes the expansion.
If the expansion budget passes, Virginia will be the 33rd state to approve Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act.
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