It's time for Allison Tant and the Florida Democratic Party to start firing up some commercials, even if they're just on the Web, challenging Rick Scott for his lack of motivating his Republican colleagues in the state Legislature to accept the federal government's plan on Medicaid expansion.
The thought comes to mind as the RPOF continues to hammer Charlie Crist every day with their "this day in CRIST-ory" e-mails, not waiting around for the former Republican-turned-Democrat to make his expected announcement that he's a candidate for his new party's nomination for governor in 2014.
So while the Republicans have their fun, Scott continues to add to his already formidable fund-raising totals. And the Democrats do nothing.
But at the same time, the issue of Florida Republicans failing to do anything when they had the chance to add hundreds of thousands of Floridians to the health-insurance rolls remains a potent political weapon for the Democrats. Tant and the Democrats could simply suggest that Scott start aping what Arizona Governor Jan Brewer has been doing since she also called on her legislature to take the feds deal on health care.
Brewer threatened to veto every bill the state legislature passes until they agree to accept Medicaid expansion – and now she's convinced her state Senate to get on board with expansion. And now the Arizona state House is doing the same.
Under the new health care law, Florida would get about $51 billion in federal money over the next 10 years to expand Medicaid. If states expand Medicaid, the federal government will cover all costs initially, eventually dropping down to about 90 percent of the expense. But unless lawmakers do something within the next six months, that deal drops off the table, while Florida business owners will be forced to extend private coverage to their employees (or pay a fine instead).
The Democrats simply need to do more to put the pressure on Scott and the GOP-led Legislature on this huge issue.
In other news, the Tampa City Council passed an ordinance on first reading yesterday that could (but probably won't) put repeat offenders of a new car noise ordinance in jail if they don't stop their wayward ways.
CL's Arielle Stevenson has a story in this week's issue on St. Pete's problems with recycling….and Nicole Abbett writes about Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn at the Florida Aquarium in what is titled a "touching display."
This article appears in Jun 6-12, 2013.