Republicans in Virginia have reportedly persuaded state Sen. Phillip P. Puckett (D) to resign and accept a prestigious job offer, giving the GOP a slim majority in the state Senate that would allow it to block Medicaid expansion.
Puckett is expected to announce his resignation Monday, The Washington Post reported. Three people familiar with the plan told the Post that Puckett would accept a job as deputy director of the state tobacco commission, while his daughter would be on track for appointment to a judgeship.
Puckett’s resignation would give Republicans a 20-19 advantage in the state Senate. Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe (D) was counting on Senate support for Medicaid expansion, as the Republican-controlled House of Delegates has remained opposed to it.
McAuliffe said in a statement that Puckett’s resignation created “uncertainty” for his plan to expand Medicaid.
“I am deeply disappointed by this news and the uncertainty it creates at a time when 400,000 Virginians are waiting for access to quality health care, especially those in Southwest Virginia,” the governor said, as quoted by the Post. “This situation is unacceptable, but the bipartisan majority in the Senate and I will continue to work hard to put Virginians first and find compromise on a budget that closes the coverage gap.”
Del. Terry G. Kilgore (R), the chairman of the state tobacco commission, disputed that Puckett was resigning in exchange for the deputy director position while acknowledging that Puckett’s resignation made him available for the job.
“If he’s available, we would like to have him because of his knowledge of the area, and he formerly was on the tobacco commission for years, and he knew what we’re about,” Kilgore told the Post.
Puckett did not respond to the Post’s requests for comment.
This post has been updated.
If the Governor or the Democratic Party has any say at all, Pickett and his daughter should be mud from now on. This man is a quisling, plain and simple. A collaborator of the worst kind – for personal gain. They have a name for people who walk the streets hustling for money.
Accepting valuable consideration in exchange for a vote is bribery. Wouldn’t accepting it for not voting amount to the same thing?
I indeed wonder if there is any kind of violation colorable under Va. law. And Once you throw in the daughter lined up to get a judgeship out of it, it sounds like a bad Hollywood script. They oughtta put Her Honor on some judicial anti-corruption commission just to play it for laughs.
Oh, we never doubted, Terry, that this was totally legit! We keep our noses clean and never any need to break our legs!
Several of the uninsured who will die in Virginia for lack of care is his fault.
Absolute bribery and no different than a cash payment. What a democratic traitor. Party well rid of him.