A poll of Virginia Republicans released Tuesday shows the majority would be less likely to support Governor Glenn Youngkin in the future if he does not veto a bill expanding a federal drug program which makes funding available for hospitals to provide care for illegal immigrants.
The Tyson Group poll asked Virginia Republicans if they would be more or less likely to support Youngkin in the future “if he strengthened a program that subsidizes healthcare for illegal immigrants?”
A total of 62 percent of those surveyed told pollsters such a move would make them less likely to support the governor in the future.
Though not mentioned directly by pollsters, critics warn SB 119, which was approved by the General Assembly on Friday and now awaits action from Youngkin, would expand a program already being used to provide free or subsidized healthcare for illegal immigrants.
SB 119 expands the federal 340B program, which allows hospitals to buy drugs at significantly discounted rates in order to provide services to low-income individuals. In 2022, the program was under fire by Democrats in Richmond over alleged abuse, including by a “hollowed-out hospital” that boasted higher profit margins than any other hospital in the commonwealth.
A spokesman for Youngkin told Town Hall, “The governor will review all legislation that comes to his desk. He is deeply concerned about the federal 340b program and how it could be exploited to provide taxpayer subsidized healthcare to illegal immigrants.”
The poll of 308 self-identified Republican primary voters was conducted between February 29 and March 3. Pollsters reported a margin of error of plus or minus 6 percent.
Pollsters also found an overwhelming majority of Virginia Republicans are upset about illegal immigration following the killing of nursing student Laken Riley on the University of Georgia (UGA) campus, who was allegedly murdered by illegal immigrant Jose Ibarra.
Combined, 78 percent of respondents told pollsters they had heard about Riley, while just 17 percent said they did not know about the killing.
The survey also found that 77 percent of respondents additionally said they would be less likely to support political candidates who “supported weak immigration enforcement legislation” that allows sanctuary cities to refuse to comply with federal election officials.
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Tom Pappert is the lead reporter for The Tennessee Star, and also reports for The Georgia Star News, The Virginia Star, and The Arizona Sun Times. Follow Tom on X/Twitter. Email tips to [email protected].
Photo “Glenn Youngkin” by Governor of Virginia.
