The Governor has flipped again in his position on expansion of Medicaid to the near poor in this state. Under the ACA and CMS the Federal government has a special program to pay for uninsured care provided by hospitals and other in state providers. This LIP money has been essential in allowing services to be available especially in underserved communities. This over 2 Billion infusion requires either that the state conform to the optional rules for providing coverage under the ACA, or the state have an alternative policy that is satisfactory to CMS for covering the poor. In 2014 Florida was given a one year extension to complete the design of a Florida program and at that time Scott indicated he supported extending coverage to more Floridians (he was also in a close election with Crist).

Now the deadline is near. The GOP controlled Florida Senate is ready to pass enabling legislation to expand coverage and get the 2.2 Billion dollars. The GOP controlled Florida House being controlled by a more extreme wing of the party and with a big push from the Kochs, is refusing to go along. The governor could have shown leadership, pushed the House, remind them that he campaigned on the expansion plan. But oh no. Instead he flip flops and is threatening to sue the Federal government to force them to give money to Florida even though Florida will not be in compliance with the long known rules for qualifying for the money. The GOP leader of the Senate seems to understand that Scott is wrong as
"The federal government has no obligation to provide LIP funding, or to work within our time-frame.”

Read details at the following links:
Gov. Rick Scott sues feds over health care money, Medicaid expansion | Tampa Bay Times


Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he'll sue to get federal money that doesn't have Obamacare*cooties

Will Florida legislators serve Floridians or the Kochs in their Medicaid expansion*fight?

Gov. Rick Scott shifts again on Medicaid expansion | PolitiFact Florida

Rick Scott has an easy way out of his Medicaid mess - The Washington Post

What does all this mean to the Average Villiger? The way it looks to me is that only poor people will feel the pain.

The underlying issue is that Obama is using his usual Chicago tactics of intimidation and demanding expansion of ObamaCare.

Does anyone reading political talk believe that we should condone government intimidation such as used by the IRS, EPA, DOJ? If so you may be happier in a place like Cuba

Personal Best Regards:

Maybe YOU'D be happier in Cuba. You'll be able to move there soon.

You clearly don't understand how politics work. Elected representatives, at all levels of Government, by and large try to get reelected. This generally means voting in a manner that represents the wished/values of their constituency. So, you are essentially saying that a good percentage of your fellow FL residents are "extreme". I personally would never be so presumptuous, and neither should you. I suspect you are a democrat and as such only your values and opinions are apparently worthwhile.

Originally Posted by Guest

The Governor has flipped again in his position on expansion of Medicaid to the near poor in this state. Under the ACA and CMS the Federal government has a special program to pay for uninsured care provided by hospitals and other in state providers. This LIP money has been essential in allowing services to be available especially in underserved communities. This over 2 Billion infusion requires either that the state conform to the optional rules for providing coverage under the ACA, or the state have an alternative policy that is satisfactory to CMS for covering the poor. In 2014 Florida was given a one year extension to complete the design of a Florida program and at that time Scott indicated he supported extending coverage to more Floridians (he was also in a close election with Crist).

Now the deadline is near. The GOP controlled Florida Senate is ready to pass enabling legislation to expand coverage and get the 2.2 Billion dollars. The GOP controlled Florida House being controlled by a more extreme wing of the party and with a big push from the Kochs, is refusing to go along. The governor could have shown leadership, pushed the House, remind them that he campaigned on the expansion plan. But oh no. Instead he flip flops and is threatening to sue the Federal government to force them to give money to Florida even though Florida will not be in compliance with the long known rules for qualifying for the money. The GOP leader of the Senate seems to understand that Scott is wrong as
"The federal government has no obligation to provide LIP funding, or to work within our time-frame.”

Read details at the following links:
Gov. Rick Scott sues feds over health care money, Medicaid expansion | Tampa Bay Times


Florida Gov. Rick Scott says he'll sue to get federal money that doesn't have Obamacare*cooties

Will Florida legislators serve Floridians or the Kochs in their Medicaid expansion*fight?

Gov. Rick Scott shifts again on Medicaid expansion | PolitiFact Florida

Rick Scott has an easy way out of his Medicaid mess - The Washington Post

Originally Posted by Guest

Maybe YOU'D be happier in Cuba. You'll be able to move there soon.

Your retort makes no sense and not a bit helpful to the conversation!

Originally Posted by Guest

Your retort makes no sense and not a bit helpful to the conversation!

I wasn't attempting to be helpful to the so called conversation. So, Mission Accomplished!

Originally Posted by Guest

What does all this mean to the Average Villiger? The way it looks to me is that only poor people will feel the pain.

Spoken like a caricature of the angry white old GOP voter. You can't actually believe that the average Villager believes that policies that inflict pain on poor people are good for Florida or America? And you are wrong. The hospitals that provide uncompensated care are in every county including Sumter Co. The state budget collapses without the 2.2 billion. In other states that have refused Medicaid expansion there have already been hospital closings. The dollars that the Federal government would be sending to Florida includes money that Floridians paid in Federal taxes which instead of returning here will be disbursed to other states, although it is fair to add that Florida receives far more money from Washington than it pays to Washington. Only 2 states get more back per dollar sent than Florida.

Apparently the GOP leaders of the Florida Senate should all move to Cuba and take everyone who disagrees with the most extremist positions possible. If one is not adherent to the Tea Party then one is a communist? Or is it that one is in agreement with every other developed country in the world.

So I am clear, those who feel it will be an ok thing when those Federal dollars stop, what should be the consequences for the budget and priorities for the GOP run legislature and governor? Do we just tell the hospitals to make do with less, do we close Tampa General and Shands in Central Florida? Do we institute a state income tax to cover the lost dollars? Do we raise premiums on those with private insurance so that those insurance companies can then pay more to hospitals when they get an insured patient? Or is the Right wing plan really just.. If you are poor and get sick, die. Compassionate conservatism was so George Bush, nice to see how the party has grown beyond that foolishness.

Originally Posted by Guest

You clearly don't understand how politics work. Elected representatives, at all levels of Government, by and large try to get reelected. This generally means voting in a manner that represents the wished/values of their constituency. So, you are essentially saying that a good percentage of your fellow FL residents are "extreme". I personally would never be so presumptuous, and neither should you. I suspect you are a democrat and as such only your values and opinions are apparently worthwhile.

Interesting comment worthy of its own thread. Here I would only say that I do not believe that the districts as drawn in Florida result in a legislature that accurately reflects the political beliefs of its citizens especially with a primary process that results often with the most extreme candidate succeeding in being nominated due to lack of participation by the rank and file but heavy voting by motivated extremists (see Ted Yoho for example). More than half the incumbents running in the general election in 2014 for Florida house ran unopposed. Only 10% of the Florida House districts are considered competitive as of 2012, and fewer in 2014. Florida House of Representatives elections, 2014 - Ballotpedia

So to get re-elected one need not pay heed to the general voter in your district rather one has to pay careful attention to the primary voter and the special interest groups that will fund your primary campaign.

Originally Posted by Guest

Spoken like a caricature of the angry white old GOP voter. You can't actually believe that the average Villager believes that policies that inflict pain on poor people are good for Florida or America? And you are wrong. The hospitals that provide uncompensated care are in every county including Sumter Co. The state budget collapses without the 2.2 billion. In other states that have refused Medicaid expansion there have already been hospital closings. The dollars that the Federal government would be sending to Florida includes money that Floridians paid in Federal taxes which instead of returning here will be disbursed to other states, although it is fair to add that Florida receives far more money from Washington than it pays to Washington. Only 2 states get more back per dollar sent than Florida.

Apparently the GOP leaders of the Florida Senate should all move to Cuba and take everyone who disagrees with the most extremist positions possible. If one is not adherent to the Tea Party then one is a communist? Or is it that one is in agreement with every other developed country in the world.

So I am clear, those who feel it will be an ok thing when those Federal dollars stop, what should be the consequences for the budget and priorities for the GOP run legislature and governor? Do we just tell the hospitals to make do with less, do we close Tampa General and Shands in Central Florida? Do we institute a state income tax to cover the lost dollars? Do we raise premiums on those with private insurance so that those insurance companies can then pay more to hospitals when they get an insured patient? Or is the Right wing plan really just.. If you are poor and get sick, die. Compassionate conservatism was so George Bush, nice to see how the party has grown beyond that foolishness.

I can understand your anger toward the post that you quote. I actually thought it was a post done in either sarcasm or as bait, and not the true beliefs of the poster, but what do I know?

Anyway, regarding your post - I'm convinced that keeping the federal govt out of areas such as healthcare is the best remedy. Let the states deal with it and let the voters decide if their elected officials are doing an adequate job - if not, vote them out! One of the best run healthcare programs that I have seen in my practice, is a prescription program for low income seniors that is run and funded totally by the state that I currently live in. It is not only well managed, but provides reimbursement to the provider at levels far better than any federal program. A success story totally out of the hands of the feds.

Originally Posted by Guest

Interesting comment worthy of its own thread. Here I would only say that I do not believe that the districts as drawn in Florida result in a legislature that accurately reflects the political beliefs of its citizens especially with a primary process that results often with the most extreme candidate succeeding in being nominated due to lack of participation by the rank and file but heavy voting by motivated extremists (see Ted Yoho for example). More than half the incumbents running in the general election in 2014 for Florida house ran unopposed. Only 10% of the Florida House districts are considered competitive as of 2012, and fewer in 2014. Florida House of Representatives elections, 2014 - Ballotpedia

So to get re-elected one need not pay heed to the general voter in your district rather one has to pay careful attention to the primary voter and the special interest groups that will fund your primary campaign.

bee-eye-en-gee-oh!

Originally Posted by Guest

I wasn't attempting to be helpful to the so called conversation. So, Mission Accomplished!

Finally an admission of purpose. Confirms many our suspicions.

I find it amusing that the states that criticize the federal government are more on the Federal dole than any of the more liberal/mainstream ones. The fact is they are propagating the welfare system to a wider extent. They just want theirs. Greed coupled with utter ignorance!

Originally Posted by Guest

I wasn't attempting to be helpful to the so called conversation. So, Mission Accomplished!

Yes, you typically excel at not being helpful ... congrats.

Originally Posted by Guest

Yes, you typically excel at not being helpful ... congrats.

There's no being helpful to anything on this political forum. It's all a bunch of right wingers patting each other on the back and castigating any opposing view.

You all scream for discussion, but all you want is someone to agree with your position. That's the only discussion you seek.

I'm continually amazed at how uncaring some of you are for your fellow citizens.

Also, don't assume you know who I am...I might be you.