Letter to the Editor: Vote Peace at May 4 convention

Much has been said in the 97th District race about the vote on a budget which included Medicaid expansion. What if the budget had failed?

Governor Ralph Northam would have let the state government shut down. In order to reopen state government, General Assembly Republicans would have not only had to swallow Medicaid expansion, but they would have to do it with no strings attached. There was no option of “no Medicaid expansion ever.” There were enough Republicans in southwestern Virginia with large numbers of uninsured who would have joined Democrats in making full-on Medicaid expansion law.

Delegate Chris Peace saved Virginia taxpayers a lot of money voting for this “least-worry” option. What if Del. Peace were to lose the convention? Thirteen years of seniority is important when you consider what could happen. Are we really going to sacrifice steady-handed experience because one vote which would have ended up growing the government more than Del. Peace’s critics know?

Vote reason over emotion. Vote Del. Chris Peace at the May 4 convention.

Rosemary Ellett
Quinton