Rick Scott's Medicaid Privatization Plan May Pose Conflict Of Interest

Mother Jones:

Republican governor Rick Scott's push to privatize Medicaid in Florida is highly controversial--not least because the health care business Scott handed over to his wife when he took office could reap a major profit if the legislation becomes law.

Read the whole story: Mother Jones

Comments

[deb0214]

11:45 AM on 03/27/2011

From "Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Blog"

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott Forgoes BP Litigation - Scott coddles BP" - Part 2

"The money is available. A $20 billion account has been established to reimburse victims of the spill. About $4 billion has been allocated.

But Scott, a proponent of offshore drilling who has even refused to rule out allowing drilling close to Florida’s shores, has not responded to Yerrid’s findings.

His stance is baffling, particularly given that Florida faces a $3.75 billion budget shortfall, which is forcing severe cuts in education and other state efforts. Important environmental programs, such as Florida Forever and Everglades restoration, have been virtually abandoned.

Yet Scott, who has made clear he doesn’t like litigation, apparently believes giant BP, one of the world’s most profitable companies, merits his tender regard. His priority should be the people of Florida, not solely the corporations he constantly champions, thinking only they can get the state back on solid economic footing.

It is yet another disturbing decision by a governor who seems unwilling to allow facts — or the welfare of Florida — to affect his rigid outlook on issues."

THOUGHTS ANYONE ????

[deb0214]

11:44 AM on 03/27/2011

From "Gulf of Mexico Oil Spill Blog"

"Florida Gov. Rick Scott Forgoes BP Litigation - Scott coddles BP" - Part 1

"While Gov. Rick Scott never fails to mention Florida beaches when extolling the state’s virtues to business interests, it appears he is reluctant to challenge polluters who foul our shores and hurt our economy.

The Tribune’s Rob Shaw found, Scott doesn’t seem interested in pursuing legal action against BP for the damage caused Florida by the Deepwater Horizon oil spill last year.

Then-Gov. Charlie Crist appointed Tampa attorney Steve Yerrid to serve as a special counsel on the spill, directing him to develop a legal strategy that would enable Florida to recover some of its losses.

But Yerrid’s tenure ended last year, and he has yet to hear from Scott.

So the money the state is rightfully due — which could be used to fund key state initiatives, including environmental programs Scott is neglecting — is left in BP’s pockets.

Yerrid was part of the legal “Dream Team” that then-Gov. Lawton Chiles put together in 1996, which won billions in damages from Big Tobacco. So Crist had good reason to select him to prepare the state’s legal actions.

The attorney, of course, stands to gain if Florida pursues the case — but so do the people of Florida.

Yerrid tells Shaw that the state could collect from BP $2 billion to $2.5 billion, which would represent lost “sales taxes, bed taxes, reduced property values and environmental damage.”

[BGagliardi529]

03:49 PM on 03/29/2011

You mention Florida Beaches. If Rick Scott had his way, He would probably sell all of Florida's Public Beaches, and turn them into Sand-traps to go along with the Golf Courses He would like to Put in Our State Parks. The Wealthy in Florida don't use Public Beaches anyway.

[zzeltar]

11:00 AM on 03/27/2011

Scott's newest crime spree- http://motherjones.com/politics/2011/03/rick-scott-florida-medicaid-solantic http://www.politicususa.com/en/rick-scott-taxpayers-clinics Um help, police, somebody?

[fr33d0mhawk]

10:49 AM on 03/27/2011

What did Floridians think electing the Bernie Madoff of medicare for governor? Scott has made a lucrative profession on ripping off the government, stealing from We the People to line his own pockets, and Scott has the power of the law and guns to enforce his Big Govt corruption.

Rick Scott hates Floridians which is why he is ripping them off. Just like how Bernie Madoff said he despised his victims, Scott despises Floridians. Scott is about to trump his previous record of fraud, but this time Scott is going to use BIG GOVT to perpetrate the fraud, then Scott will likely make his billions and leave the US for a country without an extradition treaty.

Scott epitomizes every GOP republican governor in the nation right now, all crooked, all expanding Big Govt to Orwellian proportions while crying how they love small government. The hypocrisy is monumental, saying Scott likes small government is like saying David Koresh was Jesus Christ. My feeling that the only way to stop Scott is going to be extrajudicial, because rich thieves who abominate government are always above accountability of the law, just like Neocons and Teabaggers want it, elitist immunity for pillaging and Talibanification of the United States of America.

Next time Teabaggers, why not just elect Osama Bin Laden as governor, oh thats right, Osama Bin Laden would not grow government and destroy America fast enough for you baggers. Now it makes sense why you all eleted Scott, because you hate America.

[zzeltar]

10:45 AM on 03/27/2011

Scott the Felon is planning an even bigger heist- http://www.politicususa.com/en/rick-scott-taxpayers-clinics This is seriously criminal- He must be locked up.

[drillsgtmark]

10:11 AM on 03/27/2011

If it benefits Rick Scott, it benefits his constituents...I got it backwards, if it doesn't benefit Rick Scott, it benefits who???

[bola47]

10:08 AM on 03/27/2011

and this week the florida legislators voted to allow anyone with business before the state to make payoffs to those who vote on the issues---the legislators. here is a another big surprise for all of those who felt scott was better than alex sink, high school football and baseball. parents, you can kiss those college scholarships goodbye because when your school district has no money for after school sports they will disappear.

[jwredd]

09:52 AM on 03/27/2011

This goes beyond lobbyists writing legislation, now the lobbyist and legislator are one and the same.....

[zzeltar]

10:47 AM on 03/27/2011

The is the vision of the GOP/Teaparty- they are all wealthy, corrupt business thieves. Seriously, they are mostly millionaires or they are propped up by the likes of Koch or other big money monopolists!

[marka]

09:52 AM on 03/27/2011

Given this man's past, why is anyone surprised that he may be behaving in an unethical manner? The only question that I have is how in the world was he elected to office? Did his state take leave of its senses?

[Gaylord P Farqua]

09:14 AM on 03/27/2011

Scott is far too busy destroying the educational  and  social service systems in Florida to be bothered with ethics. The voters in Florida chose the dream of slightly lower property taxes and the chance to punish public employees over any consideration for the state's children or those with needs. When all the talented teachers find employment in more progressive states where the minds of children are important and, when the fire fighters and police forces are so decimated they cannot effectively respond, then  maybe we will understand the message Mr. Medicare Fraud is sending.

[Conscientious Objector 2]

08:52 AM on 03/27/2011

medicaid is hopelessly mismanaged and riddled with fraud. Privatization could only help. at least someone would be interested in policing the crooks and incompetents. and as for his wife's stake in a company that might compete for contracts if the reform is established, do you really think that this little investment motivates a guy with his wealth. of course not. youre just looking to demonize him in the debate because you lose on the merits.

[IWantTofu]

09:14 AM on 03/27/2011

Look at Scott's old healthcare company and tell me that it was not riddled with fraud. And yes, I believe that millions of dollars motivates someone with his wealth. Look what he did in the past.

[jwredd]

09:58 AM on 03/27/2011

Little? 62 million little......

What were all these people crying about when the Bush tax cuts were set to expire? If 62 million equates to a little then how can a 2% tax increase be considered a lot?

[Conscientious Objector 2]

03:59 PM on 03/27/2011

yeah lib to scott whatever that company represents as a portion of his wealth is insignificant.

and, if you want to balance the budget by mundoing the bush tax cuts, you'll have to go after the middle class. their "cuts" cost us at least $4-5 trillion over a ten year budget. then you can go after the rest of the middle class welfare state and reform Social Security, Medicare and their tax benes like the mortgage interest deduction. the middle class is the reason we are in debt. they dont pay their share and are always whining.

I'm sure the poor will agree.

[miriamfl]

08:46 AM on 03/27/2011

Yep, these rightwingnuts h@te all government programs but they can't wait to get their grimey hands on them. They want to privatice our schools, Medicare, Medicaid and SS so that our tax dollars get into their pockets or should I say their Swiss bank accounts.

SCOTT, LEAVE YOUR GRIMEY HANDS OF OUR TAX DOLLARS!!!!!!

[Billar]

08:26 AM on 03/27/2011

This guy is the epitome of a sociopath personality. No conscience, no remorse, no value of human life.

[IWantTofu]

09:15 AM on 03/27/2011

Yes. But people should have known that from his past behaviour before voting him in as governor. They get what they deserve.

[greysells2]

07:38 AM on 03/27/2011

The push to privatize Medacaid in FL by Scott is entirely predictible. So also is the question of his ethics in pushing legislation that will be in his own financial best interest. Scott was always about money and "Scott". Any pretense at principles and values can be safely ignored. The ideological purity of the Tea Party has just been used to get Scott what he wants. What were Floridians thinking on election day? And what will Floridians do now to fix this mess?

[PavilionWI]

08:19 AM on 03/27/2011

Big Money buying our Democracy has been happening for a long time. The only difference now is that these Tea Party Republicans have pushed their consituents into the streets and started an uprising that will not go away. I'm from WI. Scott Walker is just as bad as Gov. Scott. When I walked with thousands of people down at the square it dawned on me that the real power to change what is happening rests in the hands of the people and that we have to take regional uprisings national. So... I started this online petition. Please consider signing it - you can find it here: http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/WeThePeople/


Description follows:

Ask the Ed Schultz Show, National AFL-CIO and Teamsters unions to get involved and organize a protest on Capitol Hill demanding the rescission of Bush Era tax cuts for the wealthiest people in this country.

The extremists on Capitol Hill are demanding billions and billions of cuts in social programs. Once again, they are asking the elderly, the disabled, and average Americans to take the hit, under the guise of "shared sacrifice". And they are doing this AFTER holding middle class tax cuts hostage and demanding that the Bush Era tax cuts for the wealthiest amongst us be extended. It's time to demand an end to tax cuts for the wealthiest amongst us, it's time to demand an end to corporate loopholes. It's time to demand that shared sacrifice include the wealthy as well.

[budanatr]

04:02 AM on 03/27/2011

This was one of his plans from the very moment he even tought about running for Governor. He has a few others on his wish list. I hope this time he will be found guilty and go to prison unlike last time when he was found guilty and allowed to go free. This is what happens when you allow conservatives to get away with a crime.