Rick Scott Slammed by Perry Thurston for 'Repugnant and Divisive' Comments Rejecting Obamacare

With Gov. Rick Scott announcing over the weekend that Florida will only implement the required sections of the federal health-care law-- and opt out of the Medicaid expansion and creating insurance exchanges -- Democrats in the Sunshine State are firing back.

Incoming House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston of Plantation weighed in on Monday and tore into the governor.

Having lost their legal fight, it is time now for Governor Rick Scott, Attorney General Pam Bondi and legislative leaders to direct their influence toward helping our state carry out the Affordable Care Act to the benefit of millions of Floridians, Thurston said. It is especially imperative that Governor Scott stop the foot dragging and recognize that it is fiscally and morally irresponsible to refuse billions of dollars to provide health coverage to more low-income Floridians.

I believe it is a colossal abdication of Governor Scotts responsibility to prematurely reject provisions of the Affordable Care Act that would provide access to basic health care for Floridas most-needy citizens, Thurston continued before slamming Scott for using harmful rhetoric.

His recent repugnant and divisive remarks on the topic truly displays a lack of compassion, a lack of leadership and strikes me as a sickening political stunt at the expense of our states most vulnerable residents, Thurston insisted. Lost in Governor Scotts insensitive statements in the wake of the ruling on the Affordable Care Act is an apparent failure to recognize that all Florida residents and businesses have an inherent stake in making sure there are good health outcomes for Floridians. The status quo only continues a costly reliance on hospital emergency rooms for treatment to the poor, which wastes resources and drives up costs for other consumers and businesses.

Governor Scotts defiance renders him incapable of recognizing that health insurance exchanges authorized under the Affordable Care Act embrace free-market principles and promote personal responsibility by allowing consumers to comparison shop in purchasing health coverage, Thurston said in closing. On behalf of my colleagues in the Florida House Democratic Caucus and on behalf of many Floridians, I call on Governor Scott to show leadership and end the political gamesmanship. It is time for Governor Scott to get to work and implement health care reform for Florida.