BREAKING

Florida Gov. Rick Scott Reverses Course and Backs Key Obamacare Provision

Scott becomes the seventh GOP governor to approve Medicaid expansion

Feb 20, 2013 by Lisa Fine

Staff Writer t

Florida Republican Gov. Rick Scott announced he will expand Medicaid in his state to cover 1.3 million more low income residents, reversing his outspoken opposition to a key measure of the Obamacare health reform law.

His decision marked a surprising turnaround for Scott. Just last month, he came under fire for using questionable cost estimates to justify refusing to expand Medicaid.

Scott's change of heart came hours after the federal government agreed to grant Florida a conditional waiver to privatize Medicaid statewide. Under Obamacare, the federal government will pay states the full cost of expanding Medicaid coverage for the first three years. After that, the states would pay for 10 percent of the cost. The Supreme Court ruled last summer that the states could decide whether to participate.

Scott became the seventh GOP governor to approve Medicaid expansion. Governors from Ohio, North Dakota, Nevada, New Mexico, Arizona and Michigan are already on board.

Via the Miami Herald

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Feb '13

thatgirl

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Can we say "ramping up for re-election"? What an ass.
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Feb '13

Fishbone345

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We musicians have a saying that I'm pretty sure Politicians abide by too, "Play to your Audience".
If they like certain songs and dances, learn them. ;)
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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@Fishbone345 I know that saying well. :P
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@Fishbone345 It really doesn't matter if you're sick to death of ":Stairway to Heaven". If more than two ask for it you're playing it. LOL
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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@jessejaymes Thought that was "Freebird", lol
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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@thatgirl Nope. Freebird was just out. No matter what they said. Well unless someone walked up with a 20 and then the guitarist (that being myself) would relent. But without money Freebird and House of the Rising Sun was out.
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Feb '13

Roco

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I'm not saying AMA is good or bad because there are parts that are good and parts that are bad. All these governors were against it mainly of a state's right platform. But once the money figures came out, they are jumped on that federal money. Governor Brewer said it would be a shame let all the money go. There are no principles anymore, just looking for more government monies to fill up their state coffers. This applies to both Democrats and Republicans.
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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Scott is trying to rehab his abysmal ratings as Gov of FL before he starts his run for re-election.
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Feb '13

AntiPorcheria

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I noted nowhere in the article did they mention that his strong opinion had "evolved".
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Feb '13

PoliticalSpice

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That is because evolve is different then surrender.
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Feb '13

mwr

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may as well take advantage of Obama's social medical benefits, it only hurts the 47%
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Feb '13

SavageMazx

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Can tell if he is Batboy or Gollum....either way he is an ass.....or politician...tomato tomoto
- B1 • Vote Up r3 Replies
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Feb '13

SavageMazx

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Can't tell stupid smart phone
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Feb '13

thatgirl

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he's a little of both, lol
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Feb '13

jessejaymes

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I'm leaning towards Gollum
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Feb '13

DARSB

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I am shocked SHOCKED! that the guy in charge of the company that conducted the largest Medicare fraud scheme in American history suddenly decides ACA money is just dandy now that he can spend it in a "privatized" Medicaid program.
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Feb '13

happyhenry

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not to sure scott can win another term, suporting obama don,t no shakey ground
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Feb '13

wonka45ACP

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The real reason behind the rush to expand medicade is to pay for the more than
11 million illegal immigrants in this country. Altough the numbers are probably far greater than we know.
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Feb '13

NTBFW

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Nothing good is going to come from Obama care. It is a tremendous black hole that will just suck money into it at an unprecedented rate. Money we don't have.
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Feb '13

Nautilus

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Good bye Rick , you have been a terrible governor
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Feb '13

zachsquatch

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Voting season is coming.
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Feb '13

Sonny

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These extreme Republicans, and their so-called "tea-party" constituents, can always seem to find "the right path" when it comes down to their own health, money, or social security issues. For the most part his opposition to the "Affordable Care Act" was only founded on faulty statistics and his bizarre hatred of Pres. Obama...So it does not surprise me in the least that he has finally come around to doing the right thing for the citizens of Florida....
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Feb '13

PoliticalSpice

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Repub governors on this, repubs in congress on immigration. Can you spell surrender? The seveth repub governor to reverse his position on obamacare...
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Feb '13

Sonny

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@PoliticalSpice And expect more, PoliticalSpice. They can only hold onto their fake "arguments" against healthcare for so long....And frankly, none of them, so far have come up with anything better or even comparable.
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Feb '13

PoliticalSpice

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@Sonny only because none of them dare speak the words McCarthyism dare not imagine: socialized medicine. National health care; single payer.
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Feb '13

scotta

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It is more big government bull scatt. This is another program the federal or state governments can not afford
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Feb '13

jaybebo84

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Coward and wimp...like most neocons...
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Feb '13

MadAmerican

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If he wants reelected he had to.
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Did Scott make the right choice to expand Medicaid?

Did Scott make the right choice to expand Medicaid?