Scott Still Won't Implement Obamacare

[Andy Stanton]

Source: Huffington Post

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R) maintained that he would continue to reject implementation of key aspects of President Barack Obama's health care reform law this week, despite the certainty that Obamacare will now remain intact due to the president's reelection."

Read more: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/08/rick-scott-obamacare-florida_n_2092834.html?utm_hp_ref=politics

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I hope the residents of Florida wise up and throw this bum out at the first opportunity.

[caseymoz]

1. Oh, so now he's down to the "I don't care if it's the law . . ." argument

Yeah, so what happened to rule of law with conservatives?

[Thav]

10. The only law they will follow is their own.

They want power, not to govern.

[caseymoz]

49. They see it as believing in a higher power.

And those of us who believe in lesser gods are just being rebellious.

[KansDem]

51. At one point I thought about having a bumper sticker printed...

...that read:

"My God and beat up your God"

...but thought it might be too inflammatory. So I thought about:

"My prophet and beat up your prophet"

I think it gets the same point across...

[FiveGoodMen]

33. What happened is that every time they've defied the law, they've gotten away with it

If we'd held them accountable, some would be in prison and the rest would have learned something.

This applies to many, many things although I see below that this may not be a violation (of the law!)

[caseymoz]

50. Depends on which "they."

The conservatives this year who tried voter fraud are definitely paying dearly. However, I don't think there's a personal penalty for defying the law as Walker is doing, though if they take him the court, and he's ordered to implement it and he still disobeys, it's Contempt of Court.

[FiveGoodMen]

56. By "paying dearly" do you just mean they didn't win?

Or that they wasted a lot of money?

Those who practice election fraud should pay with several years in prison.

Nothing else is nealy good enough.

[valerief]

2. When people break the law, can't they be arrested? nt

[PoliticAverse]

15. He's not breaking the law, states don't have to set up exchanges or join the expanded Medicaid

program.

[valerief]

26. Thanks. I didn't read the link. I know about the Medicaid expansion rejection option.

What an asshole that Medicare defrauding criminal is. It's a wonder he hasn't been "corrected" by his constituents.

[HockeyMom]

3. His Amendment to exempt Florida from the ACA

went down to DEFEAT. Will of the PEOPLE who apparently WANT IT, besides which that Amendment is outright ILLEGAL. What does he not understand about doing the will of the people?????

[BlueMan Votes]

42. he is doing the will of the people.

but they're the wrong people.

[tridim]

4. Being a dick is NOT a good political move Ricky.

Dumbass didn't learn anything from Tuesday's pummeling.

[Kablooie]

20. Being a dick is an *excellent* move for a Republican.

It pleases their hard core base and makes everyone else want to eliminate them.

[Swede Atlanta]

5. I love the pukes....

they are all about law and order but when there is a law with which they disagree they just decide not to comply. Since the Supreme Court has upheld the constitutionality of the ACA and the Court would be unlikely to re-consider the matter anytime soon (all law school students learn stare decisis), he is openly breaking the law. This could set up for a federal - state confrontation.

What the federal government could or would do is hard to say. But, regardless, this could become a potentially devastating political problem for him in 2014 when he is up for re-election. Not to mention that he is hurting Floridians. Where the residents of other states begin to enjoy the full benefits of the ACA, uninsured Floridians would suffer. So they would have to consider that at election time.

Is there a recall process for governors in Florida?

[democrat_patriot]

6. I know; all I hear is 'we must follow the constitution' - well ACA is CONSTITUTIONAL.

The Republican party is a bunch of 6 year olds.

I hope they keep digging their heels in, the election showed them nothing and they will be gone soon.

[PoliticAverse]

17. The part requiring states to participate in the expanded Medicaid program was found unconstitutional

which is why Florida is free to not participate in it.

[Ineeda]

53. No recall process and

practically the entire government of Florida are repukes. It boggles the mind: Florida squeaked into the blue column in two consecutive presidential elections; this creep of a governor was elected during the teaparty wave of 2010, despite his criminal history (which was well known!!!!), and his approval numbers are the lowest (I think) of any other sitting governor. Yet, there's nothing we can do about him. Arghhh.

[RedCloud]

7. Off to Gitmo with this traitor to the will of Democracy!

[vinny9698]

8. Those governors are just posturing, they will cave and take the money

Hospitals, doctors, health insurance are big GOP donors, they will be taking a financial hit. Big financial hit. And you know who the GOP panders and caters to.

[demo dutch]

9. He did not take Fed. funds in the past & 52% rejected his constitutional amendmend on healthcare

[rks306]

11. I think he's a crook

People had to wait 6hrs. to vote. He saw nothing wrong with the election. Fire him. Change election procedure.

[liberalmuse]

12. Even though half of his state wants Obamacare...

I hope these Republican Governors do reject it, but I feel really bad for the people in their states. I hope they reject it so there's a contrast between their states and those states that have it. I'm pretty confident there will be an outcry in a couple years if they still refuse to allow it in their states, and I can't wait.

[Turbineguy]

13. He was elected to

fuck over Floridians. If he didn't do that he would be violating his mandate.

[John2]

14. This

is what I want Eric Holder to do. Engage this clown. He also vetoed the high speed rail project for Florida when his own people wanted it but the Florida State Supreme Court upheld his authority. So Romney and Ryan went to Florida bashing President Obama about jobs but the news media didn't point out in one single incident, that Scott killed a jobs project for Florida. Governor Crist mentioned it several times but media pundits like CNN kept using Republican talking points. That is the problem I also have with current media and using politcal operatives to give the public information. They are too lazy to find out the truth. Their public service is to expose tyrants like Rick Scott for what they are.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

37. Me too!!! He's a first-class crook anyway, so there's nothing to feel bad about. nt

[crunch60]

48. Our MSM is becoming obsolete, CNN, ABC, and the rest. They're corrupted by big $$ owners

and patrons, mostly the GOP/Murdoch etc. Control the media, control the people. That's what they have done to a large portion of American's, who are not as active on political sites like DU. Democracy Now, and a few others.

[and-justice-for-all]

16. He is a worthless bastard...nt

[csziggy]

18. Frankly I'd rather have the federal government run health exchanges

And NOT the corrupt Florida legislature!

The Republicans in this state are missing the point that if they don't set up a health care exchange, it will be done by the federal government and will be out of their control. That is a GOOD thing since I am sure anything set up by pRick Snott and his cronies will only funnel money into their pockets and not act for the best interests of Florida citizens!

I'm HAPPY that they are not going to use this method to take over more of our money. I AM surprised that they don't see how this is giving up 'state's rights' that the Republicans are so fond of!

I'm looking forward to having the option of a federally run health care exchange!

[SDjack]

19. Agree. Florida is so corrupt that the best route is having

the Feds setup the Florida healthcare exchange. Hee-hee, it will also block Scott from siphoning money out of the system after he leaves office. He's just making it more difficult for him to return to his crooked ways.

[happyslug]

36. That is the problem, under Federal law such "Corruption" is illegal

You must understand that Social Security is a STATE PROGRAM, where every state gave the Federal Government the right to operate its State Social Security Program.

Now, Social Security Taxes are FEDERAL, i.e, can be collected even in a State that does NOT make the Federal Government its agent for its Social Security Program.

The reason for the above was they was some question as to the Constitutionality of Social Security at the Federal Level, but no question as to the right of the Federal Government to impose a tax. What Congress did in the 1930s was pass a law that the SS Taxes would be collected, and any person who lives in any state that passed laws compliant with the requirement of the Social Security Act (including making the Federal Government the agents of the State) would get Federal Social Security if they meet those Federal Requirements (Including how much paid in, and age or disability status).

Now, one of the requirement of the Social Security Act was that the States could set up agencies to handle the issue of who was disabled. In simple terms, a FEDERAL Civil Service agent takes a Social Security Application and passes it to said STATE AGENCY, that then approves it or disapproves it (Such State Action is re-viewable by a Federal Administrative Law Judge and the Federal Courts).

The problem for the states was the State Agency had to meet several FEDERAL requirements, including that it be staffed by Civil Servant employees hired through a Civil Service System that meet the requirements of the Federal Government. Notice the state do NOT have to use the Federal Civil Service System, but whatever system they use will be reviewed by the Federal Government to make sure it meets these Federal Requirements.

Notice, the State retains control over its employees, BUT that control must be similar to the Federal Civil Service System, i.e. no political input except at the top end and then NOT over anyone who decides cases.

In simple terms, a person working for such a State Agency can NOT be fired except for "Good Cause" and then only after a hearing. Thus the Governor can NOT fire anyone in a position and fill it with his political hacks. Similar rules I expect to apply to these new "State Agencies" i.e. run by professionals not political hacks.

I suspect that is what the Governor is objecting to, hiring people due to their ability to do the job, not on their political contribution to his election.

[drm604]

29. Is that how it works?

If a state refuses then the feds can come in and do it? I didn't realize that.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

40. Yes, that's how it works, thank goodness. nt

[drm604]

41. How odd then that Scott would give up his state's control over it.

I guess there's a conflict of his principles here and "protect state's rights" loses to "resist Obamacare".

[Sarah Ibarruri]

43. Rick Scott is a predator, a crook, and an authoritarian, and LOVES to wield power...

He thinks (and rightly so) that most people don't know that the federal govt. will take over and design Florida's Obamacare plan, if he refuses to do it, and at least for the moment, the authoritarian-worshippers in this state LOVE his attitude. He's trying to terrify liberals, and make right wingnuts proud. With regard to Obamacare, that won't last long though.

[csziggy]

44. Yes - at least that is what other DUers have said

And news paper articles. I don't have the links for a reference but I would not be surprised if the writers of the Affordable Care Act anticipated Republican idiocy and thought that having it revert to the federal government might be an incentive to force the states to set up health exchanges for themselves.

[joanbarnes]

21. Treason.

[harun]

22. Passive Aggressive

[Comrade_McKenzie]

23. Cut all federal funding to Florida. nt

[patricia92243]

24. They did hate him because he blocked the building of a new rail system. Don't know if they got over

it and love him now. Since the vote was as close as it was - somebody still likes his Republican ways.

[Ashened]

25. why...

Why can't the Obama administration just bring a lawsuit to force Scott to do it?

[Daniel537]

31. Because the law does not require him to setup the exchanges

And the SCOTUS ruled that the states don't have to accept the Medicaid expansion, a real kick in the teeth to the poor.

[Ashened]

45. well...

that sucks. Could they amend the law to fix that part?

[Daniel537]

54. They could, but i doubt the GOP will be willing to do that.

We gotta hope the Dems take back the House in '14. Dems have gotta start voting at higher percentages during midterms.

[Zambero]

27. That's OK Rick, let the feds do it for you

No sense in giving your state some latitude and decision space on setting up an insurance marketplace that will make health care costs more affordable and competitive. The rub here is that when fully implemented Obamacare might actually become popular with your constituents. As an unflinching idealogue, we know you will resist any outcome you don't like, even if the outcome is inevitable.

[Megahurtz]

28. More Republican Tantrums

Republicans blowing gaskets everywhere at the expense of American workers and those less fortunate than them. I hope more people wise up and see them for who they really are.

[Daniel537]

30. Voted against him last time, will vote against him in 2014.

I just hope enough of the people that came out on Tuesday come out in 2014 as well. This is what happens when Dems stay home.

[Nika]

32. Considering how he hosed all those poor people waiting for hours and hours to vote,

this is no surprise. Hopefully he will get enough political fallout and pressure that he has no alternative but to obey common sense and implement changes that will happen regardless of what he does.

[Vinnie From Indy]

34. The Federal Govt. really doesn't need his OK

If Scott and the FL legislature fail to implement the Affordable Care act, The Feds will set up an exchange for FL citizens.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

35. I live in Florida, with this HCA Medicare fraud criminal as its governor...

But you know what? If he won't implement Obamacare, then the feds will do it for him.

[Daniel537]

55. They can implement the exchanges, but unfortunately they can't make him accept the Medicaid money

This means that if the legislature doesn't step in and force him to accept the money, those poor folks like myself that would qualify for Medicaid are shit out of luck, since the tax credits are only supposed to go to people above the Medicaid threshold. Lets hope the Hospital lobby is strong enough to change some votes in Tallahassee.

[Sarah Ibarruri]

57. Are you in Tally?

Look at Boehner speaking about Obamacare.

http://nbcpolitics.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/11/08/15029606-boehner-obamacare-is-the-law-of-the-land?lite

[Cha]

38. The Dems have two years and then they can get rid of this Plutocratic Asshole..

May they turn out like they did for Pres Obama!

[bobthedrummer]

39. My Governor has a criminal defense fund. n/t

[Major Hogwash]

46. Federal law trumps Scott. I think he can be impeached now.

For malfeasance, willful negligence, or both.

[libdem4life]

47. He got away with massive Medicare fraud, resigned, then Florida voted him is an Governor.

I couldn't believe it...don't live there, but it was surreal. Why would he stop now?

[clyrc]

52. He is the main reason I am thinking about getting into local politics again

Not that the county I currently live in will elect a Democrat for governor, but every vote counts. And it would feel so good to help kick Rick out.