Gillespie Chickens Out On Graham-Cassidy

VA-Gov Candidate Won’t Stand Up to Trump, Refused to Take a Position on Bill With $1.2 Billion Impact on Virginia

 As pressure from Republican and Democratic governors across the country led to the Graham-Cassidy health care bill being pulled from consideration, Ed Gillespie chickened out. He cowered on the sidelines, refusing to take a firm position on this plan that would harm the health of Virginia’s families and its budget. 

After last week’s debate disaster where Gillespie flip-flopped and tried to have it both ways, he went into total hiding on this issue, carefully avoiding discussion of this bill to cut $1.2 billion from health care in Virginia and kick over 839,000 Virginians off their coverage.

Gillespie promised Virginians he would speak up whenever he disagreed with President Trump, which makes his silence on the health care debate even more cowardly.  

Meanwhile Republican Governors Larry Hogan of Maryland, Charlie Baker of Massachusetts, Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Chris Sununu of New Hampshire, Chris Christie of New Jersey, Susana Martinez of New Mexico, John Kasich of Ohio, and Phil Scott of Vermont all spoke out against the plan’s disastrous impacts on their states.

“Today, Ed Gillespie missed another opportunity to stand up to Donald Trump despite the enormous consequences Trumpcare would have on Virginia’s economy,” said DGA Communications Director Jared Leopold. “While other Republican governors and candidates stood up for their states, Ed Gillespie made clear he will let Congress ride roughshod over Virginia. Ed said he would be clear when he disagreed with the President, so his refusal to take a stand on the Graham-Cassidy health care bill is a disqualifying act of political cowardice.”