FL GOP denies $51 billion federal Medicaid to poor, yet order cheap health care for themselves

[seafan]

This, in the face of denying 1 million poor Floridians $51 billion dollars in fully federally funded Medicaid funds. Gleefully, the House GOP then patted themselves on the back, clinked glasses and closed out this year's ugly legislative session.



It is beyond my ability to express the degree of stinking disgust for these people. And they will continue to rape Florida until they are forced out.


House members say yes to cheap health insurance — for themselves

By Tia Mitchell
Times/Herald Tallahassee Bureau

May 13, 2013

Florida House Republicans last month loudly and proudly rejected billions of dollars in federal money that would have provided health insurance to 1 million poor Floridians.

Quietly, they kept their own health insurance premiums staggeringly low. House members will pay just $8.34 a month for state-subsidized health care next year, or $30 a month to cover their entire family.

That's one-sixth of what state senators and most state employees will pay, and one-tenth of the cost to the average private-sector worker, according to the Kaiser Family Foundation.

.....

In a statement Monday, (House Speaker Will) Weatherford said: "We are aware of the differences in what House members pay compared to other state employees for health insurance and are looking forward to addressing it next session."

.....

The discrepancy, even if it's addressed, doesn't diminish the awkwardness of House lawmakers accepting cheap, subsidized health insurance for themselves while effectively saying no to health care for others.

"I don't think there is a defense of that. I think its pretty unconscionable," said Karen Woodall, executive director of the left-leaning Florida Center for Economic and Fiscal Policy. "And then to turn around and the leadership to say the reason 1 million people aren't accessing taxpayer-funded health care is they don't want to use taxpayer dollars is very disingenuous."

.....

These Republicans commandeering our state government are taking their health care on the cheap, while proclaiming "NO!" to federal Medicaid funds for 1 million poor Floridians:


Rep. Larry Ahern(R) District 66

Rep. Richard Corcoran(R) District 37

Rep. James Grant(R) District 64

Rep. Kathleen Peters(R) District 69

Rep. Jake Raburn(R) District 57

Rep. Dan Raulerson(R) District 58

Rep. Robert Schenck(R) District 35

Speaker Will Weatherford(R) District 38

Rep. Dana Young(R) District 60

Rep. Ross Spano(R) District 59

Rep. Ed Hooper(R) District 67



There will come a time for the people of Florida to force these politicians to pay for what they have stolen from the people. That time is at the ballot box next year.


And there is absolutely NO EXCUSE for any of these criminals to run for re-election unopposed.

[Enthusiast]

1. Republicans are heartless greedy assholes.

That much has been firmly established.

[Divine Discontent]

2. these PT workers, but FT assholes think they deserve what comes to 25 cent a day for health care?

this is shocking arrogance and stealing, imho. They don't deserve this kind of luxury benefit if they aren't going to take care of "the least of these" in society who need help and many who would love to pay a quarter a day for full health care coverage. Oh, but the grand noble hard working state reps (LOL...) deserve this for their sacrifice!