Virginia Dems Arrive in the Windy City as DNC Convention Kicks Off in Chicago; 500,000 Virginians in Medicaid Before Pandemic Disenrolled; Lucas Event
➡️ The first day of the DNC convention in Chicago is today, Aug. 19
➡️ 14 days until the Bobby Scott Labor Day Cookout on Sept. 2
🚩 32 days until early voting in Virginia: Sept. 20
🚩 78 days until Election Day Nov. 5
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Virginians Arrive in Chicago for the Democratic National Convention
CHICAGO, IL — In the Windy City this week, members of the Virginia delegation are in Chicago for a historic time at the Democratic National Convention. Virginia has 119 Delegates and 8 Alternates attending the Democratic National Convention at Chicago’s United Center. Democrats have enjoyed a noticeable spike in energy over the last three weeks and are pushing for Virginia to become the “Kamalawealth” in 32 days as early voting kicks off.
Yesterday in Chicago, several flights from Dulles, Richmond International and Norfolk Airport had so many elected officials, politicos and leaders in the party on board they could have held the convention on a Southwest or American Airlines flight. On Sunday, August 18 the delegation gathered with energy and excitement as the first Virginia delegation reception was held and power players in the Commonwealth on team blue gathered to greet each other.
Today will be the first day of the DNC and the featured speaker this evening is President Joseph Biden.
Every four years Democrats and Republicans meet to officially nominate their candidates for president and vice president and adopt the party’s official platform. Even though there are many parties and receptions to attend where networking is enjoyed, there is also official business to be completed.
The historic nomination of Vice President Kamala Harris took place via a virtual roll call vote in early August. But the ceremonial roll call will occur on the convention floor today on the floor or the United Center. We will bring you more of what Virginians are doing and saying in Chicago at this historic event featuring the first Black women to be nominated for President of the United States.
A Virginia Reception in Chicago:
Nearly 500,000 Virginians in Medicaid Have Been Disenrolled
By Charlotte Rene Woods for Virginia Mercury — Of the roughly 2 million Virginians who’d been enrolled in Medicaid before the COVID-19 pandemic, over 480,000 of them have been disenrolled as of this August.
Typically eligibility determinations are made annually, but they’d been on pause nationwide amid the pandemic due to federal policy. That’s changed over the past year in what’s colloquially referred to as “Medicaid Unwinding” as provisions of federal law have expired.
A top reason for disenrolling people from Medicaid is that they no longer meet the financial requirements to be eligible — such as income at or below 80% of federal poverty levels.
While the ineligibility data could point to higher incomes which can be a good thing for people, policy analysts at The Commonwealth Institute caution that is not always the case when it comes to health insurance coverage. READ ENTIRE
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