Morning Read: D.C. Council Approves $542 Million Medicaid Contract

The D.C. Council approved a contract Tuesday that gives a start-up health care firm, Thrive Health Plan, $542 million worth of Medicaid business with the District

This will be the firm's first source of business, prompting some concerns among council members.

According to the Washington Post, Councilman Vincent Orange was the most prominent detractor, accusing the firm's owner on the dais Tuesday of failing to disclose criminal offenses on forms submitted to insurance regulators. “The question here today is one of disclosure and honesty,” Orange said.

The owner, Thomas Duncan, defended himself recently, saying the insurance examiners were aware of his three misdemeanor offenses, two of which involved underage drinking.

In the end, the council approved the contract with a 7-3 vote.

Washington Business Journal has a helpful article explaining Thrive Health Plan’s background and the nature of the contract.

IN OTHER NEWS:

* Councilman David Grosso suggests changing the name of the Redskins to the Redtails. (Washington Examiner)

* Virginia Democratic gubernatorial candidate Terry McAuliffe proposed an independent ethics commission as an oversight body for Virginia elected officials and their staff. He recently called on a ban on certain gifts to state leaders. (Virginian-Pilot)

*WaPo Editorial Board: “What powers of alchemy does Mr. Williams, a major campaign donor, possess that prompted those two officials, the state’s most powerful elected Republicans, to flagrantly disregard Virginia’s already flimsy disclosure laws?” (Washington Post)

* Councilman David Catania outlines his Reform 2.0 plan for DC public schools. (WAMU)

* Mayor Gray withdrew his nomination of a controversial AIDS health official to the Commission on Re-Entry and Returning Citizen Affairs—a city board that works to help former prisoners better integrate into the city. (Washington Post)

* McDonnell insists that the gifts from the Star Scientific CEO to members of his family did not buy any political favors for the donor or his company. (News4)

* How can Cuccinelli win over centrist voters while still appealing to his core conservative base? (Washington Post)

* At their final debate, the seven people running for the Republican lieutenant governor nomination agreed on most things. (Richmond Times-Dispatch)

* The Washington Post publisher says she is looking to house the paper’s new headquarters in D.C. and Virginia and would like it to be “cheap, and near the Capitol, near the courthouses.” (Washington City Paper)

* The Montgomery County inspector general is investigating the Silver Spring Transit Center after council members requested $100,000 be put toward examining the center's construction errors. (Washington Examiner)

* Terry McAuliffe airs his first statewide television ad of the campaign.