Joe Gibbons, Ranking Dem Member of House Appropriations, Blasts Rick Scott on Medicaid Expansion

Rep. Joe Gibbons, D-Hallandale Beach, the Democratic Ranking Member on the Florida House Appropriations Committee, issued the following statement Thursday:

Today, I spoke with Appropriations Chairman Seth McKeel regarding the statement he issued last evening about Medicaid expansion under the Affordable Care Act. During the conversation, I congratulated the chairman for helping to clear up potential misunderstandings, if not outright exaggerations, by Governor Rick Scott about the cost of implementing the federal law.

Like many Floridians, I have been stunned by the willingness of the governor to tout inflated cost estimates and I am grateful that more thoroughly vetted information is coming to everyones attention. As responsible stewards of public tax dollars, we should all strive to avoid allowing flawed cost projections from becoming the foundation for important policy decisions.

I applaud Chairman McKeel for his prudent statement and I encourage my colleagues in the Legislature to continue moving forward toward full implementation of the law.