Ryan Ray
AFP-FL, the Florida branch of the pro-industry group Americans for Prosperity, has taken to Florida television to make its case against a Senate plan to draw down federal Medicaid funding to expand coverage through the state under the program.
“At some point, the Senate is going to have to recognize that Floridians do not want more federally run healthcare,” AFP-FL state director Chris Hudson says in a voiceover featured prominently in the ad.
“Their plan will force a massive regulatory burden and even bigger financial drain on the state,” Hudson goes on. “Even worse? Their plan does nothing to ensure Floridians get the care they deserve. The Senate should be working with the House and Governor Scott to hold the federal government accountable, and refocus on what they were elected to do – balance the budget.”
The move comes at the same time as another pro-business group — the Florida Chamber of Commerce, earlier thought to be more open to some form of Medicaid expansion — has also made its opposition to the Senate’s so-called “FHIX” plan known publicly.
Referencing the Legislature’s precarious budgetary posture at the moment, which many now say will likely lead to lawmakers re-convening before July 1 for a special session, the AFP-FL ad chides the Senate, accusing it of having misplaced priorities. They say Gov. Rick Scott‘s “No Tax is Safe” tax-cut package that’s supported by the House ought to take precedence over extending health care access.
“Florida will have to keep the lights on at the Capitol a little longer as session will continue past the 60-day mark,” Hudson says in the 30-second spot. “By choosing to play politics, the Senate is going to kill a 690-million-dollar tax-cut package. The state should be balancing the budget and leaving dollars in the pockets of Floridians for them to use the way they see fit.”
