Editor, Gazette-Journal:

Should Virginia accept expansion of Medicaid offered under the Affordable Care Act, which is the law of the land? 

There are many good economic reasons for Virginia to do so. 

In that the ACA’s Expansion of Medicaid coverage is paid 100 percent from the federal government until 2020 and 90 percent after that, wouldn’t all those new billions (yes, the word starts with “B”) of dollars be good for Virginia? We could reduce uninsured residents dramatically without having to raise significant additional commonwealth revenue.

Also, if Virginia were to accept Washington’s offer, wouldn’t those new Medicaid dollars create jobs? As more patients have access to care, hospitals, community health centers, labs, and nursing homes would buy more supplies and hire more workers. Thus with the economic multiplier effect at work, the overall economy would experience positive benefits. Just think what billions of dollars could do....