RICHMOND, Va. (AP) — Gov. Terry McAuliffe blamed the tea party Friday after the GOP-controlled General Assembly passed a state budget aimed at ensuring the Democratic governor cannot expand Medicaid without legislative approval.

Speaking to reporters in Richmond after a ceremonial bill signing inside a Habitat for Humanity project house, the governor said the conservative faction of the Republican party was now in charge of the state legislature. He said U.S. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor’s surprise loss to a tea party backed candidate in the GOP primary Tuesday has moved Republican lawmakers further to the right.

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