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Fla. GOP Governor Backs Massive Expansion of Medicaid Under ‘Obamacare’

Feb. 20, 2013 6:29pm Becket Adams

Fla. Governor Rick Scott Okays Medicaid Expansion in President Obamas Healthcare Law

Fla. Governor Rick Scott. (Getty Images).

Despite being a vocal critic of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (i.e. “Obamacare”), Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Wednesday that he supports the Medicaid expansion in President Obama’s landmark healthcare law.

“While the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost of new people in Medicaid, I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care,” he told reporters Wednesday.

Should he get his way, that is, should the state Legislature agree to said expansion, the Republican governor will “singlehandedly add 1.3 million people to the Obamacare coverage expansion,” the Washington Post’s Sarah Kliff notes.

Gov. Scott explained that Florida will only accept federal funds to expand Medicaid for three years, at which point state lawmakers would have to reauthorize the law.

Of course, once the law is in place and millions are enrolled in the program, what’s the likelihood state lawmakers will vote to back out of the program?

The Republican governor also said that if the feds back off their commitment to fund the program, the state would back out.

However, let’s say the feds back off their commitment to fund the program by 10 percent. Does anyone really believe Florida’s lawmakers will back out of the program?

“Scott isn’t the first high-profile GOP governor to accept the Medicaid expansion, but he’s arguably the biggest get for the Obama administration. Florida led the 26-state lawsuit that said the entire healthcare law — specifically including its Medicaid expansion — was unconstitutional,” The Hill notes.

Needless to say, Gov. Scott’s announcement is a major about-face.

“This would be devastating … this is an expansion that just doesn’t make any sense,” the Republican governor said in a 2012 interview with Fox News.

Rick Scott earns spot on the Obamacare Wall of Shame next to Ben Nelson, Bart Stupak, John Roberts, et al

— Philip Klein (@philipaklein) February 20, 2013

Of course, to be fair, Scott isn’t the only Republican governor to back the Medicaid expansion in the president’s healthcare law.

“Scott is the seventh GOP governor to accept the Medicaid expansion. Other high-profile members of that group include Arizona’s Jan Brewer, Ohio’s John Kasich and Michigan’s Rick Snyder,” The Hill notes.

The Supreme Court’s healthcare decision, you may recall, made the Medicaid expansion optional for states.

Here are Gov. Scott’s remarks in full:

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Comments (94)

toto
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:42pm
No values, no honor, no principles, no integrity. Both the left and the right are peopled by America’s pathetic politicians are anything but real Americans that care about our children and their future. They disgust me.

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- Dkoonz
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:27pm
  So true its a shame we can’t tell who has a backbone and who don’t before they are voted into office.
  
  Report this comment
- BryanB
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 3:55am
  @toto
  
  You have to understand why Governor Scott is doing this, businesses are still closing,and there are no jobs in Florida, we are in a bad way here.
  
  And what really makes it worse is, working people are comming here from all over the East and Midwest looking for work. And when they come here, they usually get stuck here with no job, no home and no medical care. They use what money they have feeding their kids and trying keep a roof over their heads.
  And I can’t tell you how many familes I’ve seen living in their cars and cheap motels. And the Churchs that help people here, run low on funds all the time helping people with food and housing.
  
  The Governor sees these people and is moved with compassion, at this point I really don’t know if this is going to make things better or worse………….
  
  Report this comment
- biohazard23
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 5:42am
  @BryanB, I just hope Scott doesn’t turn into another Chris Christie or, worse, Charlie Crist. Our great state doesn’t need that anymore than we need another hurricane. Just sayin’.
  
  Report this comment
- SLAPTHELEFT
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:22am
  No problem Rick. There is an election coming soon and we will reward your “evolution” with a big smack. We can always find a new governor.
  
  Now it is time for that pink slip. You are dismissed sir.
  
  Report this comment
- pavepaws
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 1:11pm
  Sell out.
  
  Report this comment
- TEIN
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 1:21pm
  @Bryanbe….The people you are describing already qualify for medicaid, welfare, and any other government program… Gov. Scott is looking at “..I cannot, in good conscience, deny the uninsured access to care,..” Meaning the people who won’t be insured because their employer cannot afford the “Affordable Health Care Act” and are willing to pay the “penalty” now defined as a tax…those people won’t have insurance…. this is a designed process of getting people to a single payer insurance or in other words the Fed Government will be your insurance company and with this happening only paves a possible path of Libby/Progressive control and further fundamental change of the USA…Agenda implemented, Welcome to the Socialist Republic of the USA…The SRUSA…
  
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dannyo
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:39pm
when the consequence of voting your conservative principals may lead to being defeated on the next go around, the repubs always side with the dems…simple enough…see: rick scott

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denkat56
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:34pm
I thought that the poor couldn’t be turned away already. Who’s gonna fine these people with no insurance, lord knows its against the law not have insurance.

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Tri-ox
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:32pm
HUGE mistake! Rick Scott is really going to regret siding with obama in destroying America – it’s going to come back to bit him – hard!

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- 0317
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 9:13pm
  When Charlie Christ sided with O he was washed up in florida politics, I guess Scott missed that 4 years.
  
  Report this comment
- truthnstuff
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 11:01pm
  They always talk the game as long as it serves them. Watch out for the next Floridian to show his true colors, Rubio.
  
  Report this comment
- Wilma
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 8:20am
  Charlie Crist has already announced he running for governor next election and is already campaigning. Tuesday, he spoke at a local law school in my area. Attendance was mandatory for law students. He repeated Obama’s lie abut the 106 year old woman who waited six hours on line to bolster his claim that vote FL GOP wants to suppress. I worked the polls in Fl. The elderly and infirmed go immediately to the front. I do not understand why no one at The Blaze has outed Obama on this point.
  
  Report this comment
- 4freedomssake
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 11:46am
  Rick Scott has been under daily attack from the Liberal Press here in Florida, and he apparently decided to try to ease the attacks by going left. He forgets one important thing: The media will neither credit his move left and his cave to Obama, but his previous supporters will remember. He won by a razor-thin margin, this will end that possibility. And the media will intensify their attacks because they smell blood in the water. His naivete about the reality that the MSM will never ascribe compassion to a Republican, just crass pandering. Bye-bye Rick!
  
  Report this comment
- armyalex
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 3:46pm
  I live in florida and I will not be voting for him again I am so tired of all these politicians being squishy every time they come up for reelection.
  
  Report this comment
out of many one
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:28pm
Look forward to Florida instituting an income tax to pay for this crap when the feds pull back.

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- siguy62
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 12:10am
  You beat me to it. I’ve got idiot friends and family in Fl who voted for O. Still looking for a way to blame Bush when there taxes went up last month. Wait until the “FREE” healthcare they all voted for results in an income tax.
  
  Report this comment
rochrealtor
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:23pm
*****. no more help for you.

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ncstatemom3
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:58pm
Next election, if this is the kind of crap we are going to have to choose from again I will stay home and they can have it all again. I will not waste anymore of my life on this kind of politician. GOP – you better wake up and hear me. I am done with you as you are now and I have three more voters in my house that are right behind me.

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- Cosmos102
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:57pm
  @ NCASTATEMOM3 When you walk away out of righteous indignation over SOME of the GOP’s decisions, what you are really doing is giving your country the middle finger. Thanks. I’m sure Obama and his America hating friends love people like you. Your kind helped him win the election for a second term, and your kind is also at least partly responsible for putting the fear in Republican leaders like Rick Scott. They see the Democrats win elections after they’ve harmed the country, and they believe that this must be what the people want.
  
  Think about it.
  
  Report this comment
- Seymour
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:59pm
  I have Cosmos and that just doesn’t seem to work. I’m with MOM3.
  
  Report this comment
RandomRambler
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:45pm
As a FL resident I supported Scott. Now I’m looking for primary challengers. Also expect Sen President to offer some resistance. The pressure from the hospital lobby is heavy

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- moreoilplease
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 7:22am
  And you’ll get another one just like Scott and Crist. It will be great listening to the challengers rhetoric and if he or she wins the primary and the general, you’ll see that they fall in line just like the rest.
  
  During election season they’re “very” different and Super Duper conservative. Then when it really counts, they do what the establishment wants. And you lose.
  
  No one’s stopping this train, next stop financial abyss via the scenic route of state and local government dissolution. I predicted 5 years ago this would be an agonizingly slow motion economic, social and political train wreck. So far, right on the money.
  
  Report this comment
- term limits for congress
  Posted on February 21, 2013 at 10:57am
  Scott IS the hospital lobby.
  
  Report this comment
REVerse
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:44pm
They all suck.

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BenFrank1791
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:44pm
I guess he doesn’t need my vote in the next election.

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Tom70
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:42pm
Can you spell RINO?

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P4cooler
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:37pm
Our governor here in Wisconsin (Scott Walker) said once you accept money from the federal government, you are trapped. I feel sorry for the dark future of Florida. Governor Scott made a tragic mistake. Obamacare is a total disaster and all states should stand together and tell the tyrannical Feds to go to hell! Florida’s move is embarrassing and ignorant. Good Lord!!!

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teawithjill
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:36pm
Bad day for Florida Gov. Scott and Senator Rubio have abandoned the conservatives and gone to the dark side!!

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GoodStuff
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:34pm
Cowards.

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PoliticallyRightUs.Com
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:31pm
F ing traitors!!!

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high school drop out
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:30pm
Hey Slayer you are 100% right about it “Crashing down” But the Medicaid expansion will be the begining of the end for those states dumb enough to believe the fed will keep its word about the funding. So, when the Govt. inevitably screws them, The states simply will not be able to pay for it…Thats when the fun begins!..”Can you say FISCAL DESTRUCTION boys and girls? I knew that you could”

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raecampus
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:29pm
What will Scott do regarding guns?

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raecampus
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:28pm
So sick of trusting politicians, no more Republicans, will throw my vote away, 3rd party or Libertarian.
Gov Scott you are slime RINO.

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0317
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:22pm
When your choice in the election is spineless and even more spineless this is what you end up with. If the Republicans keep putting up candidates like Scott they will soon be mentioned with the only Whigs. Scott is certainly one onf the weakest governors from either party we have had in many years. His first reaction to any problem is to try to get on both sides of it.

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shayelyn
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:16pm
First Crist, then Scott. I am tired of throwing my vote away!

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Delphinus13
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:14pm
How does refusing to sign the state of Florida on to a vast expansion of another expensive “hand out” program constitute ” denying the uninsured access to care?” They have access to care. We ALL have ACCESS to care. We all also have a corresponding RESPONSIBILITY to pay for that care. I’m perfectly willing to voluntarily donate to help those who are needy. I think it’s wrong, particularly with our nation $16.6T in debt and sinking fast, to expand handout programs that us and future generations are going to be INVOLUNTARILY FORCED to pay for, especially when so many “takers” of this hand out are capable of paying for their own care.

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- freeberty
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:34pm
  It’s not only the politicians in FL (all republican controlled) that want the federal money, the hospital lobby is jumping on the money train.
  
  No matter what your governor is saying right know, no one is going to pass on the federal handout, or the money they would have to return to the federal government if they don’t sign up.
  
  Report this comment
- retiredfire
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:26pm
  I can see his argument – the federal govt will pay for uninsured people to get coverage in states that say OK and not in states that don’t. Therefore the uninsured in his state will not get coverage that the feds will pay for. He has been put into this situation by a system that has been building for a very long time, one the founders never envisioned.
  We live in an upside-down system whereby we pay more in taxes to the government entity furthest from our needs and we have very little control over what they do with the money.
  I don’t know about everyone out there but I get most services from my local government, yet I pay the least amount of taxes, there. The vast majority of taxes paid are to an entity that produces very little tangible return for the money. And is there even a mechanism, like a nationwide initiative vote, that can directly influence the way this large amount of money is used?No, all we get is to vote, every two years, for someone who votes on so many laws that have direct effects on our well-being, that we can’t really know if we are being adequately served, coupled with a “watchdog” national media that feed the belief that our best result from Washington is how much we can get them to send back our way, through who knows how many levels of bureaucracy, that each take their share.
  
  Report this comment
freeberty
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:09pm
Nobody came in more independent then Rick Scott, he has now given in to the unions and Obama care. Just can’t give up the ties to the federal money.
I’m not really surprised, no matter how much people like to talk about, cutbacks or revolution over an oppressive government (lol), until you’re willing to give up that government check you have arriving in the mailbox every month, you’re really no different than an Obama cell phone user living down in section 8.
For those that don’t understand, if you’re receiving any kind of government check, you’re not a patriot, you’re a parasite.

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- high school drop out
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:41pm
  @Freeberty I do’nt think “parasite” is the right term for folks like myself who have money”confiscated” from our wages with the promise of getting it back in the future…..The true”parasite’ is the Govt. Otherwise, good post!
  
  Report this comment
hi
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:05pm
I don’t mind in good conscience stealing from you so I can feel like a do-gooder. I certainly won’t use any of my own money, just yours.”

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- Keatonc333
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:28pm
  What! does he not pay taxes?!!
  
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progressiveslayer
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:01pm
Those progs sure are hard to get rid of huh? Folks they’re all the same and it doesn’t matter an “R” or a “D” they’re identical. I don’t care what else he’s done he’s expanding an already unconstitutional program,medicaid,this whole government,federal,state and local are in the big government party but the good news is it won’t last for long and it’ll all come crashing down.

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civilwarcometh
Posted on February 20, 2013 at 6:59pm
Re-call his A$$!!

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- TSUNAMI_22
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 7:19pm
  There won’t be time for that once the war and the hunt for the long list of traitors begins in earnest.
  
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- crusaderx9
  Posted on February 20, 2013 at 8:50pm
  Tsunami_22,
  
  Amen!
  
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