Hero or Zero?
April 13th
Welcome to Progress Virginia’s Hero or Zero, a weekly, unapologetically progressive take on this week’s heroes and zeros in Virginia politics. Check out this space every Friday, and Tweet us or post to our Facebook to nominate your own heroes and zeros.
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HERO: Kim, Kenny And Dozens Of Advocates At The General Assembly
Not every special session of the General Assembly is overflowing with advocates, but this Wednesday dozens of activists showed up to ask the state Senate to expand Medicaid.
400,000 Virginians have been left behind by conservatives in the General Assembly. But they haven’t given up the fight for healthcare! On Wednesday, activists like Kim Gibson and Kenny Boddye made their voices heard as the Senate and House Galleries were packed full with advocates asking elected officials to close the coverage gap and help our friends and neighbors access affordable healthcare.
Medicaid expansion was not voted upon on Wednesday, and a date has not been set for the next vote for healthcare. But we’re not wasting any time.
ZERO: What A Dick.
This week, Senator Dick Black decided to defend Bashar al-Assad, who is recently suspected of a chemical attack in Syria. Black gave this speech during a special session of the Virginia General Assembly, where legislators were *supposed* to be debating the budget and Medicaid expansion.
I’ll remind you that expanding Medicaid in Virginia could help 400,000 of our neighbors access affordable healthcare.
But yeah, Dick Black thought it was more important to spend 20 minutes spinning conspiracy theories and defending a violent and heartless dictator.
P.S. Dick Black went to Syria two years ago to meet Bashar al-Assad. I’m sure that’s unrelated.