The leader of the Democratic National Committee on Wednesday unleashed a blistering attack on Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford over the issue of health insurance.
U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz described House Republicans as spoiled children for rejecting billions of dollars in federal cash to extend health coverage to a million uninsured Floridians.
Florida House Republicans, she said, are spoiled children who are stomping their feet and insisting because they didnt get their way that they are not going to let anyone benefit from the outcome and its just irresponsible.
Speaker Weatherford has led the way against accepting the federal funds, arguing the money could run out and force Floridians to pay the tab.
Wasserman Schultz suggested Weatherford is a hypocrite because his family benefitted from Medicaid when Weatherfords brother contracted cancer and had huge medical bills.
Will Weatherford should know better," said the congresswoman from Weston. "This is a guy who personally experienced a health care crisis in his family and as a result had to go on Medicaid in order to be able to make sure they could have his familys health care needs taken care of. That he would deny that same opportunity for a million Floridians is shocking.
They have an opportunity to accept $51 billion from the federal government. As a donor state, how many of us have railed that we send more in tax dollars to the federal government than we get back and this is an opportunity for us to finally get some of that back. Cover a million uninsured Floridians.
Wasserman Schultz had a word of advice for Gov. Rick Scott, too. Its time for him to get off the sidelines," she said. "Either hes for accepting those funds and is willing to use his clout and his weight and put the full weight of his office behind that position or hes not and if hes not, its meaningless.
She urged the governor to get off the sidelines and use his clout to push for expanded health coverage in Florida. Scott did, in fact, change his mind on the Affordable Care Act and now wants Florida to accept the $50 billion of federal money available for expanded health care over the next 10 years.
Dave Heller is a Tallahassee freelance reporter/videographer.
