February 09, 2005
FL Dems show signs of spine
As Jeb!’s brother fights to destroy Social Security, Jeb! himself is concentrating on shafting the poor by decimating the state’s Medicaid program. Medicaid provides health insurance for the poor and disabled, and Jeb! feels that the only justification for keeping it around would be to allow private companies to profit from the suffering of our most vulnerable citizens.
Thankfully, and perhaps inspired by the national party’s strong stance against the Social Security privateers, Florida’s legislative Dems seem to be displaying a bit of backbone on this one, as they promise to fight Jeb!’s impecunious plan.
Democratic legislators objected Tuesday to Gov. Jeb Bush's proposed overhaul of the Florida Medicaid program, with one leader vowing his party would ``draw our line in the sand.''Ten members of the House Democratic Caucus held a news conference to criticize the Republican governor for trying to cut health care for the poor while pushing new tax breaks.
``We do not want decisions on people's health, decisions on what we are going to cover, [made] by some bureaucrat in an HMO,'' said Rep. Chris Smith, of Fort Lauderdale, leader of his chamber's minority party.
``We want it to be decided by the people's representatives, by the Legislature,'' he said. ``We do not want to abrogate our responsibility to take care of the most needy in this state.''
Bush unveiled his plan last month to revamp the health care system, leaving many details unresolved. He would eliminate Medicaid as an entitlement, an open-ended program in which the state covers medical bills of those eligible after they have been treated.
Instead, the state would buy insurance policies in a managed care program such as a health maintenance organization for Medicaid recipients. The private vendors who accept the state premiums would be allowed to define the scope of benefits offered.
Bush argues the proposal would help the state stabilize its costs while offering Medicaid patients choices among a variety of plans.
Critics object to letting private companies define coverage. Rep. Joyce Cusack, D-DeLand, said proponents haven't been upfront in describing their vision.
``The governor and his colleagues are refusing to admit that the likely outcome in their plan will be to reduce benefits for Medicaid recipients,'' Cusack said. ``That's the bottom line, a reduction in benefits.''
Related: Delivering a backbone to the DNC, the day after W’s coronation.
Posted by Norwood at February 9, 2005 06:13 AM