That was quite the call-out by the Tampa Bay Times of the Florida House for its refusal to accept Medicaid expansion money. Its Sunday Perspective front page was dedicated to the “immoral minority” and featured mug-shot-like photos–along with phone numbers and email addresses–of the 13 Republican obstructionists who represent Tampa Bay districts, including Dana Young and Shawn Harrison of Tampa. The former is the House majority leader as well as a South Tampa embarrassment.
Polls show the majority of Floridians support taking federal dollars to extend health care coverage to the working poor. The medical community wants it. So do many businesses. So does–overwhelmingly–the Florida Senate.
As the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce has put it: “The bottom line is that health care expansion would lower business costs, increase competitiveness and create a healthier workforce and community.”
This shouldn’t be partisan, polarizing politics as usual. This shouldn’t be about a visceral dislike of President Obama or an inherent distrust of all things Washington.
This should be about us. About the 800,000 low-income, working Floridians who could gain health care coverage at no cost to taxpayers.
Is the House remotely responsible? Does it even care?