Thanks, Abe!

 West Virginia's 151st birthday happened on Friday, although I neglected to mention it here. After reading this article on how Republicans in Virginia are doing everything they can to block Medicaid expansion to around 400,000 low income residents of that state, I'm grateful to President Lincoln for his help in allowing WV to secede from the secessionists during a certain sectional dust-up in the 1860s

In West Virginia, where Gov. Tomblin decided to expand Medicaid in May 2013, something like 125,000 people have gained coverage under that program since Jan. 1 2014. The state Department of Health and Human Resources has done such a great job with outreach and enrollment that well over 90 percent of those eligible for the program have signed up.

Here's to honest Abe!