With over one million people in Virginia on Medicaid, about 630,000 of those could stand to lose coverage should Republicans in Congress cut federal funding, Democratic state lawmakers have stressed. U.S. Rep. Jennifer McClellan, D-Richmond, added her voice to the chorus of warnings at a press conference at the statehouse on Tuesday afternoon.
“We are here to say, ‘not on our watch and not without a fight,’” McClellan said during her visit to Virginia’s Capitol.
She was joined by state Sen. Ghazala Hashmi, D-Chesterfield and Del. Mark Sickles, D-Fairfax, along with central Virginia residents who shared their experiences with Medicaid as recipients or healthcare providers.
Though it doesn’t name Medicaid specifically, the U.S. House Republican budget plan adopted in February would direct the House Energy and Commerce Committee — which McClellan serves on in the minority party — to find ways to cut the deficit by $880 billion over the next decade. That committee has jurisdiction over Medicaid, Medicare and the Children’s Health Insurance Program.
“(Republican’s budget plan) doesn’t say the word ‘Medicaid’ but you cannot get to $880 billion… without cutting Medicaid,” McClellan said.
The federal program helps states provide healthcare coverage to low-income earners, as well as those with disabilities or who don’t have employer-sponsored healthcare. When Virginia expanded its Medicaid program in 2018, Virginia’s acute care hospitals stepped up to provide some funding. But trigger language in the expansion means that it could be lost if federal funding changes.
The possibility is troubling for Virginia Democrats, who have been sounding the alarm for months. A January memo from President Donald Trump to initiate a federal funding freeze earlier this year included a footnote detailing programs that would not be affected — Medicaid was absent from that footnote. Several states also reported brief loss of connection to Medicaid portals, something Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s office knew about but did not disclose at the time.
Hashmi and state Sen. Creigh Deeds, D-Charlottesville, had tried to help Virginia prepare for potential cuts through a state budget amendment, but it didn’t survive negotiations.
“We’re going to have a lot of figuring out to do and it’s really going to be a struggle to do that,” Deeds said earlier this year.
Aida Pacheco’s voice strained and eyes welled Tuesday while she described how her daughter is battling breast cancer. Having worked all of her adult life, the diagnosis has left her unable to do so while she is receiving care.
“She has a fighting chance with Medicaid,” Pacheco said.
Aida Pacheco speaks about how Medicaid ensures her daughter who is battling breast cancer has health insurance while she is unable to work. Photo by Charlotte Rene Woods / Virginia Mercury
Her voice grew passionate as she described opponents of Medicaid labeling beneficiaries as “abusing the system” or being people who “don’t want to work.”
“It’s insulting,” she said.
Katina Moss added how each of Virginia’s Medicaid recipients has a story of what it means for them. For Moss, it means being able to have insurance for her own health while she cares for her ill and aging mother. Just as she was launching her own small business, her mother fell ill and needed multiple surgeries. To be able to care for her, Moss has taken “jobs for lesser pay.”
“I do not intend to be on Medicaid permanently,” she said, but said it has helped her at a time she otherwise would not have health care. “There are too many people who are just one doctor’s visit away from financial ruin.”
It’s stories like theirs that McClellan hopes her colleagues in the nation’s capital will listen to.
“When they start hearing from their constituents about how much they want them to keep their hands off their health care, they’ll backtrack,” McClellan said.
In the meantime, there are still steps ahead before more concrete movement on Medicaid specifically could occur. Congressional Republicans are balancing pressure from the Trump administration to move forward on certain tax cuts as well as funding boosts to support military spending and mass deportations of undocumented immigrants with cuts to social programs as possibilities. There is also a reconciliation process likely to kick off next month where lawmakers can further deliberate on budgets.
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www.youtube.com – WTVR CBS 6 – 2025-06-14 11:47:32
SUMMARY: A flood watch remains in effect through tonight for much of the area, with potential for torrential downpours, especially north and west of Richmond. Storms today may produce rainfall rates up to 2–3 inches per hour and gusts near 40 mph. Scattered storms are likely mid-to-late afternoon and into the evening. Sunday, Father’s Day, will be muggy with highs near 80 in Richmond, cooler to the north and east. A marginal risk of strong storms exists south of I-64. Rain chances ease midweek as temps rise to the 90s. A front Thursday brings brief relief before heat returns next weekend.
We’re tracking more scattered storms for Saturday. Showers and storms will increase from mid-afternoon into the evening. Due to the muggy air, torrential downpours will occur, and localized flooding is possible. Some spots could pick up multiple inches of rainfall. A few storms could have some gusts in excess of 40 mph.
www.youtube.com – 13News Now – 2025-06-13 19:23:36
SUMMARY: Several area high schools competed in state semifinals across baseball, softball, and soccer. In Class 5 baseball, Cox edged Independence 2-1 with MJ Lemke closing the game, advancing to face Ocean Lakes in an all Beach District final. In softball, Great Bridge fell 1-0 to Mills Godwin despite strong pitching by Bailey Blevin. Gloucester, York, and Western Branch advanced to the finals. In boys’ Class 5 soccer, Hickory lost 2-0 to Lightridge, while Kellam beat Riverside to reach the finals. Northampton Boys and Kellam Girls won, but West Point Boys and Lafayette Girls were eliminated from title contention.
Several area high schools punched their ticket to the championship game that included the Cox Falcons baseball team.
www.thecentersquare.com – By Morgan Sweeney | The Center Square – (The Center Square – ) 2025-06-13 18:44:00
Washington, D.C., is preparing for a military parade on Flag Day and President Trump’s birthday, costing $25-$45 million. In response, the ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance movement, backed by over 100 organizations, is organizing protests in more than 2,000 U.S. cities, including dozens near D.C., opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and defending democracy. While no protests are planned in D.C. itself, heightened security has been enforced, with the parade designated a National Special Security Event. President Trump warned that protests in the capital would face strong force. No Kings emphasizes nonviolence, aiming to de-escalate conflicts. The main event will be held in Philadelphia.
(The Center Square) – As Washington, D.C., gears up for an historic military parade coinciding with Flag Day and President Donald Trump’s birthday, with projected costs between $25 million and $45 million, thecapitalregion is also mobilizing a protest response.
There are dozens of locations in Northern Virginia and Maryland within an hour’s drive of Washington where protesters can gather as part of the official nationwide ‘No Kings’ Day of Defiance.
No Kings is a movement supported by more than 100 partner organizations opposing Trump’s “authoritarian overreach” and gathering in “[defense] of democracy.”
There are over 2,000 cities and towns hosting No Kings events Saturday, where in some cases local or state leaders will speak, and “millions” that have RSVP’d, according to event communications.
Some events in thecapital regionwere at capacity as of Friday evening. One event in Kingstowne, Va., was expecting 250 people, according to an email from an organizer.
The group is not holding a protest in the district itself, however.
“Real power isn’t staged in Washington. It rises up everywhere else,” its website reads. “Instead of allowing this birthday parade to be the center of gravity, we will make action everywhere else the story of America that day.”
However, the district is also in a state of heightened security, as the parade has been designated a National Special Security Event by the Department of Homeland Security. Extra security measures were installed throughout the week leading up to the event and some will be in place through the days immediately following the event, as well. The president also told reporters that any protests in D.C. during the parade would be met with “very big force.”
No Kings says it is committed to nonviolence.
“A core principle behind all No Kings events is a commitment to nonviolent action. We expect all participants to seek to de-escalate any potential confrontation with those who disagree with our values and to act lawfully at these events,” its website says.
Note: The following A.I. based commentary is not part of the original article, reproduced above, but is offered in the hopes that it will promote greater media literacy and critical thinking, by making any potential bias more visible to the reader –Staff Editor.
Political Bias Rating: Centrist
This article presents information on both the planned military parade and the associated protests without adopting an overt ideological stance. It accurately reports the logistical and security aspects of the parade and describes the protest movement’s messaging and scale. While the article references phrases like “authoritarian overreach” and “defense of democracy,” these are clearly attributed to the protest organizers rather than the article itself. The tone remains factual and avoids emotionally charged or opinionated language. The article provides balanced coverage of actions from both the Trump administration and its critics, maintaining journalistic neutrality throughout.
