Gov. Scott Concedes That Earlier Medicaid Support Was A Ruse
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) – Gov. Rick Scott, after his mother's death in 2013, went on TV to explain his decision to drop his strongly-held opposition to President Barack Obama's health care overhaul.
Scott said his mother's death changed his perspective and he could no longer "in good conscience" oppose expanding health care coverage to nearly 1 million Floridians.
Scott conceded this week that was all a ruse. He now says his support for Medicaid expansion was a calculated move designed to win support from the Obama administration for the state's proposal to hand over control of Medicaid to private insurance companies. At the time, he denied that his support was tied to a deal with the federal government.
Now that he's succeeded in privatizing Medicaid, Scott is again railing against Medicaid expansion and is suing the federal government for allegedly forcing it on him.
Gov. Scott's office, in response to the story, put out a statement Friday afternoon that reads:
"The AP incorrectly characterized the Governor's comments yesterday. The Governor was asked by an AP reporter whether or not his support for Medicaid expansion in 2013 was a 'lie.' Governor Scott answered the question by discussing that he came out in support of Medicaid expansion, only if it was fully federally funded, at the same time the federal government granted Florida a waiver to let the state reform its Medicaid system. Unfortunately, the AP editorialized the Governor's statement."
(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)
