(CNN) – Despite Gov. Rick Scott's endorsement of expanding Medicaid using federal dollars in Florida, Republicans in the Sunshine State's legislature have landed a potentially fatal blow to the plan.
On Monday, a GOP-controlled Senate panel voted against the Medicaid expansion, a week after their House counterpart similarly rejected a plan that would increase coverage using money from the federal government. The Medicaid expansion is an optional provision of President Barack Obama's sweeping health care law.
Unless the state's lawmakers come to an alternative compromise with Scott on expanding Medicaid, the health care program for low-income Americans would not be expanded in Florida. Scott, a Republican who campaigned heavily against Obama's health care law in 2010, said he would accept the federal dollars last month.
"I am confident that the Legislature will do the right thing and find a way to protect taxpayers and the uninsured in our state while the new healthcare law provides 100 percent federal funding," Scott wrote in a statement after the Senate committee's vote.
Under Obamacare, the federal government will pick up the total cost of the expensive expansion for the first three years, after which the federal funding will phase down to 90%. The program covers all adults with annual incomes at or below 133% of the federal poverty level, which is currently $14,404 for an individual.
In his acceptance of the Medicaid expansion, Scott faced blowback from conservative Republicans who oppose Obama's health law as an overreach of the federal government. Scott was once a leading voice against the law, and campaigned heavily against it during his 2010 bid for governor.
However, in accepting the provision last month, Scott said he could not "in good conscience deny the uninsured access to care."
"We will support a three-year expansion of our Medicaid program under the new healthcare law, as long as the federal government meets their commitment to pay 100 percent of the cost during this time," he said.
CNN's Tami Lahby contributed to this report.
From CNN Politics
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Didn't I tell you last week when Gov. Scott announced he was going along with the ACA that it would never actually get implemented in Florida? They'll dangle the carrot until the Governer's race is over, and then slam the door once and for all.
I would bet money that these Florida legislators have fully paid health insurance. The Republican legislature in North Carolina has done the same thing, endorsed by Governor Pat "Rubber Stamp" McCrory, and they too – of course – are fully covered for themselves and their family. So F*** the poor once again. How Christian of them, but they have their good Southern Baptist ministers to congratulate them on Sundays, so who cares?
Apparently, the FL GOP/Teatrolls are not satisfied with Dems winning FL by just a thin margin and want to give the Dems clearer margins in the future.
Bamman needs to face it, his health care B.S. is going to make it worse, what a stupid idea, but what can you expect,
being a hravrd grad and all !!!!!!! LOL
That's right, keep tap dancing on the land mines.
I think floridians like myself and others should bring up legislation negating insurance,benefits for elective officials in every state and see with some of their past health care problems if they themselves get health insurance,that's the shoe on the other foot right yah hypocrites ..And you don't think you can be voted out as well as voted in,just wait idiots and you'll see who you ticked off buttheads with this stunt,we'll remember yah every last one!!
-Moose
Bamman needs to face it, his health care B.S. is going to make it worse, what a stupid idea, but what can you expect,
being a hravrd grad and all !!!!!!! LOL
**************
And spelling " hravad" illustrates your point, or lack of it, better than anything. The good thing is that Governor Lurch and the Tea Party fools will be expelled from Florida next November: in the meantime, good people will continue to be gouged by the Health Insurance industry, which will make all the little rightie Moose happy, eh? Nothing like million-dollar bonuses for cutting benefits and services, right?
The Florida Legislature is a joke. These people have no sense of what they are doing, they are just advancing Tea Party ideas no matter what harm they cause to my fellow Floridians.
Its just fabulous to watch the republican party inflict pain on the citizens of Florida who elected them!
So often, we see republicans hurt people (women, minorities, children, the poor, etc.), and totally get away with it. This time, they are hurting themselves. Magnificent.
"So F*** the poor once again."
Well, to be fair, the FL GOP/Teatrolls are simply hoping that denying Medicaid to as many people as possible will help force poor people and minorities (who they generally assume are poor and "mooches") to move to blue states where such things are offered. They think denying the Medicaid expansion will help defend against FL turning even more blue.
How are we ever going to pay for this at the federal level? Incomes are way down so taxes being percentage based are down as well. Realistically the 1% can no way pay for all of it. Feds are going to have to come up with some dramatic ideas such as repealing the earned income tax credit. Low income people have had it good for too long. The majority of them have abused the handouts they were given.
Hey guess what Florida gop, your going to be out of office after the 2014 mid terms. The long lines and vote riging and now this .your done in this state!!!!!!
Hmmm let me get this straigh. We pay federal taxes, those tax dollars go to funding federal programs, the Medicaid expansion is a federal program so those dollars will be distributed to those states who participate. Those that don't won't get funding but still have to pay. So tell me again why we're not taking the money?
Hey guess what moose,your a teabag hillbilly moron.
Because of the gop morons,Florida taxpayers will probably have to pay the whole cost of the new law. The gop moron party gotta go in the next elections. And hey,thanks for the long lines with all the gop voters in them . You probably cost romney the state of Florida.
If those in Florida do not want the Medicaid expansion then they need to provide a different plan which will cover those in need. Health insurance is very expensive and many families cannot afford the insurance or their work place does not offer a plan. So the answer must be that all citizens will see medical bills increase so that facilities and doctors can receive compensation for the care they give. Have they forgotten that health care is a necessity and not an option.
Of course, if Congress, state legislatures. and large corporations allowed all of us to have the same health insurance as the workers do, we would all be insured and everyone would have their health costs taken care of. Haven't heard anyone making this offer. NOT even the Republicans who are pushing to get rid of "Obamacare" during this legislative session. Just a greater divide between the haves and have nots.
Scott looks just like Peter Boyle's Frankenstein in Young Frankenstein. Creepy.
@Moose,your name fits you to a tee..Once the ACA gets going it'll change most peoples minds ,yours included if you need some in the future or you're extremely rich to pay the sky high premiums that are being paid today and remember bud the ACA bill is voted law by the SCOTUS..Remember never in history has a republican done anything helpful for Americans..Pres.Roosevelt created SocialSecurity and republicans fought him back in the late twenties,LBJ created Medicare and republicans balked at that too saying it was class welfare coming from idiots that get free government benefits right as your reps!!And remember Moose how your idol in Reagan stole from the SocialSecurity coffers with Allan Greenspan to balance his yearly federal budget..Where were republicans,the conservatives of this country at but stealing as usual from the programs they couldn't break but just raided on a yearly bases to make themselves look good right!!Go back moose and see what your party has done for America besides creating depressions, recessions and wars ,can't get much more destructive then that can yah but you'll try with the likes of Ryan,Boehner,crew and because it takes an idiot to vote for one right Moose!!
Despite gov scott 'cheap talk' is what u meant 2 report. He knew good and well his reps wouldnt pass it. It was all 4 show. That's what they r all about. Dog and pony shows all day long.
Read the time mag article bitter pill. Go8 ins keeps hospitals and doctors n check. Govt ins medicare/medicaid doesnt allow hospitals to charge 100% of actual cost. There r 4 agencies that should never b for-profit and should always b ran by govt. Military, schools, health care and prisions! That's the biggest cost is for-profits taking $ from taxpayers. Govt for-profit business.
*govt not a for-profit business.
The have Not have played that card long enough, how much do you want people to do for you, and you 20 children with 20 fathers make them pay not use we are no responsible for you people with no self control or respect for the child, just throw them out there to fend for their self, you do not care, if you did you would provide for them no matter what.
What proof do you have that Obama has an education he has not made anything available, so the way I see he is hiding what he really is a FRAUD
don,t politicans fed and state all get free health care –why
Way to care for yours citizens, Florida. Not.