With one week left in Floridas legislative session, there is a huge gap between the House and Senate over extending health care coverage to uninsured Floridians.
Today the House passed its version of health care reform, called Florida Health Choices Plus.
It would offer health insurance to about an extra 115,000 people, reject federal money, and cost the state nearly $240 million a year.
The Senate version would accept about $5 billion in federal cash a year and extend health coverage to more than a million uninsured Floridians.
The House plan would only cover disabled adults, working parents and single moms, while the Senate would cover everyone who earns up to 138 percent of the poverty level.
Republicans argued the plan is fiscally responsible and better than Medicaid.
Democrats said it will tax Floridians twice by sending their tax dollars to Washington without getting a return and then tax them again for a state health plan.
House Democratic Leader Perry Thurston of Fort Lauderdale said, This proposal that we have here today is wholly insufficient. We need better. We must have better and we can do better. The opportunity to do better is just slipping through our fingers. Vote no on this bill.
Said MaryLynn Magar, R-Tequesta, Floridians will be able to do something with this plan that they havent been able to do in a very long time and thats take control of their own medical coverage and actually see the doctor that they want to see.
Jim Waldman, D-Coconut Creek, urged the governor to veto the bill should it arrive on his desk.
Governor Scott, this Legislature has failed you. This House of Representatives has failed you. You have the power to do what is right. You need to do what is right. Take that pen of yours and if this bill comes before you, veto it.
Republican Travis Cummings of Orange Park said, We are shifting the dialogue to quality health care, improved access and long-term innovative solutions for Floridians while once again strengthening our traditional safety net.
Rick Scott, meanwhile, is advocating for the Senate version, which accepts the federal cash and covers more people.
Dave Heller is a Tallahassee freelance reporter/videographer.
