Florida’s Republican Governor Drops Opposition To ObamaCare

November 14, 2012

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Florida Governor Rick Scott, who has been among the most vocal critics of the Affordable Care Act, has had a change of heart:

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — Florida Gov. Rick Scott is dropping his staunch opposition to federal health care reform.

Scott, a vocal critic of “Obamacare,” said Tuesday that he now wants to negotiate with the federal government in a way that could help families.

Scott previously stated that he would not go along with parts of health care reform that the state controls. But the governor said that in the wake of the re-election of President Barack Obama he is now open to discussing it.

This is likely a political move on Scott’s part, who is no doubt already looking ahead to re-election in 2014 when, according to some speculation, he may end up facing former Governor Charlie Crist running either as an Independent or possibly even the Democratic nominee. However, it’s not going to make many friends for Scott inside the conservative movement and one wonders if it will lead to a primary challenge for Scott in two years.

8 responses to “Florida’s Republican Governor Drops Opposition To ObamaCare”

Geek, Esq.

November 14, 2012 at 2:58 pm

Governor Gollum is going to be feeling a lot of heat in 2014, especially if the OFA machine gets depoloyed.

And his voter suppression efforts backfired big time–not only did Obama’s people turn out despite the barriers, but Florida’s 7 hour waits to vote became a national disgrace.

Charlie Crist will beat him like a drum.
Tsar Nicholas

November 14, 2012 at 3:05 pm

FYI that’s a AP article. So you have to read past the headline and past the first couple of grafs. You also have to have your bravo sierra detector on at full blast.

There’s not a single quote of Scott’s anywhere in that piece. Not unless they update it again after the current time. Right now it’s just prose. Prose by AP writers. Connect the dots.

There also are differences between the exchanges and the Medicaid expansion. Governors might be willing to negotiate the former, but states can’t afford the latter and except for the lemming blocs governors either won’t paricipate in it or they’ll try seriously to rein in their participation. Public money doesn’t grow on trees.

The devil’s always in the details and the media is not a real media.
michael reynolds

November 14, 2012 at 3:38 pm

If this buffoon handles health care as well as he handled the voting the state will be dead within a week.

Surprise! Republicans will get on board Obamacare. Surprise! Loud-mouth CEO a-holes like Papa John’s Schnatter will quietly walk back their threats. Surprise! Republicans will be shown — for only the millionth time — to be completely full of sh!t.

@Tsar Nicholas:

Oh, and just for you, our resident unteachable Foxbot:

Scott said in an interview Tuesday with the Associated Press that he now wants to negotiate with the federal government. He said it’s time for Republicans to offer solutions to help families after they lost their bid to defeat President Barack Obama.

“The election is over and President Obama won,” Scott said. “I’m responsible for the families of Florida. … If I can get to yes, I want to get to yes.”
…

Scott said he still has concerns about the exchanges, including the cost of running one and whether it would increase the cost of health care for families. “I don’t think anyone involved in trying to improve health care should say ‘no, no, no,’ ” he said. “Let’s have a conversation.”

Oh, look: it’s quotes.
rudderpedals

November 14, 2012 at 4:09 pm

The governor should not be allowed unsupervised within 100 miles of insurance anything, especially not after Citizens, lest this new public benefit become another target for the 1% to loot. How about no.

For those not watching Citizens is the state owned insurer of last resort (homeowners, not health) in Florida and it’s sitting on a 9+ digit surplus. Because this is a terrible thing the governor is pushing a plan to gift those surpluses to new private insurance companies who will also be gifted with the ability to cherry pick current policyholders and pull them out of Citizens.
legion

November 14, 2012 at 5:05 pm

he now wants to negotiate with the federal government in a way that could help families.

Negotiate? How’s about you just do what federal f*ckin’ law says you’re supposed to do? How’s that for negotiation, Lex Luthor?
grumpy realist

November 14, 2012 at 6:04 pm

I think falls in the “holy shit, those Muthafukkers actually VOTE!” realization. And do I believe Lex Luthor? Not in the least. Weasel weasel weasel.
anjin-san

November 14, 2012 at 7:13 pm

How’s that for negotiation, Lex Luthor?

Two thumbs up for that one…
An Interested Party

November 15, 2012 at 11:17 pm

If this buffoon handles health care as well as he handled the voting the state will be dead within a week.

This scumbag has already screwed up where health care is concerned…