While the federal government is committed to paying 100 percent of the cost, I cannot in good conscience deny Floridians that needed access to health care. We will support a three-year expansion of the Medicaid program under the new health care law as long as the federal government meets their commitment to pay 100 percent of the cost during that time.Florida Gov. Rick Scott • Discussing his decision to expand his state’s Medicaid program via the Affordable Care Act, despite previously suggesting he would not. Scott, a former medical industry executive, was a staunch critic of the Affordable Care Act, and his decision puts him in conservative crosshairs. But his decision was partly personal — his mother recently died, and the reminder of her struggle to raise him and his siblings on a low income had given him a new perspective on the matter. “Losing someone so close to you puts everything in a new perspective, especially the big decisions,” he said.
201,000 Floridians didn’t vote in November because the lines were too long source
It was not my bill…The Legislature passed it. I didn’t have anything to do with passing it.Florida Governor Rick Scott, insisting to his state’s Legislative Black Caucus that he isn’t responsible for the voter ID laws the state passed in 2011. Of course, Scott signed the bill into law, and his administration spent more than $500,000 defending it in court once it became law, so this is a spurious claim, to put it nicely. In other news, a new poll suggests trouble for Scott when he runs for reelection next year. source
We are glad that so many voters made their voices heard in this election, but as we go forward we must see improvements in our election process. I have asked Secretary of State Ken Detzner to review this general election and report on ways we can improve the process after all the races are certified.Florida Gov. Rick Scott • In a statement regarding the state’s massive lines on election day. Scott plans to have his secretary of state investigate what happened — and to make improvements in the process. “We need to make improvements for Florida voters and it is important to look at processes on the state and the county level,” Scott continued. “We will carefully review suggestions for bettering the voting process in our state.”
Gov. Rick Scott says Florida’s job growth is doing A-OK. Romney’s staff says, “Hey, wait a second, that conflicts with our Obama-is-failing-the-economy message.” Scott apparently chooses to tone it down a tad. Bloomberg writes about it. Then David Axelrod tweets about it. Meet your big inside-politics story of the week.
A colorful photo, with at least two misgivings: ”Dyed chicks are displayed for sale for Easter in the Bab Touma district in Damascus, Syria, Sunday, April 8, 2012. Pope Benedict XVI implored the Syrian regime Sunday to heed international demands to end the bloodshed and said he hopes the joy of Easter will comfort Christians who are suffering because of their faith.” In a related note, Florida Gov. Rick Scott recently unbanned the controversial practice, which was banned in the state for 45 years, over the objections of animal-rights activists. (Photo by Bassem Tellawi/AP)
“I can only imagine what these parents are going through,” Mr. Obama said from the White House Rose Garden, “and when I think about this boy, I think about my own kids, and I think every parent in America should be able to understand why it is absolutely imperative that we investigate every aspect of this and that everybody pulls together, federal, state and local, to figure out how this tragedy happened.”
Mr. Obama said he is glad the Justice Department is investigating the shooting and that Florida Gov. Rick Scott has formed a task force to investigate the incident as well. The president suggested he was sympathetic to the notion that the shooting was racially motivated.
“You know, if I had a son, he’d look like Trayvon,” Mr. Obama said.
“All of us have to do some soul-searching to figure out how does something like this happen,” he continued, “and that means that we examine the laws and the context for what happened as well as the specifics of the incident.”
Obama’s comments come at a time when interest in the case is growing and leading to significant changes in the Sanford, Fla. police department. Florida Gov. Rick Scott has assigned a task force to review the “stand your ground” law which has come into question in recent days.
» For all the benefits provided by a high-school education, there’s one pesky drawback: it takes four years to get one. InterAmerican Christian Academy in Florida seeks to rectify this injustice by offering a high school diploma to anyone with a free week and four hundred bucks. The school, which is co-run by a convicted felon and located next to a lubricant company, has rigorous curriculum comprised entirely of five short take home tests. But don’t worry; they come with “workbooks” (in case you get stumped), and the place has a “very flexible grading policy.” Supposedly, at least 88 students have used degrees from IACA to gain admission to Miami-Dade College.
» Why the 15% cut? Florida’s Agency for Persons with Disabilities is facing a $170 million deficit, and Scott claims these cuts are essential to preserving the agency. Fair enough. Alternatively, he could lower his proposed $1.5 billion corporate tax cut to, say, $1.4 billion, and re-route that money to the APD. Just a suggestion. [hat tip: ThinkProgress]
But seriously … I am not kidding.
I’m not watching all of...
Yahoo wants to buy Hulu now too. They’re going on an “I...
I’m moving back to New York in a few days. Unlike past...
OMG. I got so...
In this week’s Newsweek, a little...
Tumblr this morning. [h/t anne]
#@#$%!.tumblr.com
The governor doesn’t understand there is a State Constitution and that we have three branches of government. They are talking about the attitude that he is still the CEO of his former health care corporation, and that is not going to work in this state, in Tallahassee, in my district. The people believe in three branches of government.Republican Florida State Senator Mike Fasano • Criticizing Tea Party-backed Gov. Rick Scott for pretty much acting LIKE A BOSS instead of a guy who has to answer to the legislative branch. He’s been making some pretty bold decisions – like, for example, selling state-owned jets because he had one of his own – without getting Congressional approval. “It’s necessary at this time, I think — because our governor’s new — to let him know this is not a monarchy,” said Democratic State Senator Arthenia L. Joyner. ”He’s not a king. This is a democracy.” Joyner brought a lawsuit against Scott because he killed a plan for high-speed rail. Scott, who recently unveiled his budget plan hundreds of miles away from Tallahassee, shouldn’t get too cocky – the GOP has a supermajority in both houses and can override his veto easily. source (via • follow)
First, Alex, you say you always follow the rules. The rule was no one is supposed to give us messages during the break, and your campaign did with an iPad, all right, an iPod.Florida Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott • Pointing out that his Democratic opponent, Alex Sink, received a text message during the debate, a violation of debate rules. Sink’s make-up assistant has been fired for the incident, but we’re pretty sure everyone’s missing the real crime here: Scott had two chances to correctly name the device she was using (an iPhone) and blew it both times. We wouldn’t vote for him simply because it’s obvious that he doesn’t know one Apple device from another. source (via)
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