Terry McAuliffe Formally Pushes DREAM Act, Medicaid Expansion

On Monday, in his first address to a joint session of Virginia’s General Assembly to set his policy agenda, Democratic Gov. Terry McAuliffe pushed for Virginia’s version of the DREAM Act and an expansion of the Medicaid program.

McAuliffe, who hinted he would push for in-state tuition rates for the children of illegal immigrants during his inaugural address Saturday, said he supports “offering the children of immigrants who have been living, learning, and paying taxes in this Commonwealth for years that opportunity to study at our colleges and universities.”

“The General Assembly should not wait another year to pass the bipartisan Dream Act,” he said.

Last week, legislators in Virginia introduced various bills that would give in-state tuition rates to illegal immigrants who have been in the state for three years and meet various requirements.

McAuliffe also called on Virginia’s lawmakers to accept $2.1 billion a year in Obamacare dollars from the federal government to expand Medicaid, saying he would “ask for a budget amendment requiring the Medicaid Innovation and Reform Commission to complete their work by the time this body adjourns.”

“The Commission has done useful work, but our citizens need an answer without delay,” McAuliffe said. “These families have been waiting long enough.”

As Breitbart News reported, McAuliffe may be pushing these measures to paint Republicans as obstructionists.