Phil Ammann
Filling John Thrasher’s large and impressive shoes will be a challenge, one with an ensuing clash between two political veterans: state Reps. Ronald “Doc” Renuart and Travis Hutson.
Regardless, there will be only one winner. The best person for that, in the opinion of the Florida Times-Union editorial board, is Renuart.
Thrasher left the Florida Senate to assume the presidency of Florida State University, leaving no less than three vacancies in the Legislature, with two House incumbents battling in the GOP primary for Thrasher’s Senate District 6 seat.
And it is a big seat to fill, says the Times-Union.
The paper is very familiar with Renuart, having endorsed him in previous House campaigns.
“He brings a physician’s expertise along,” they write, “with experience in the military and in the nonprofit world. It’s hard to beat Renuart’s resume.”
After three military tours in Iraq, Afghanistan and Kuwait, Renuart his included a medical mission to Ecuador, active duty service during Hurricane Andrew and the hurricanes of 2004.
Renuart is the only physician in the Legislature eligible for re-election. Expertise like that is valuable in Tallahassee.
The board also listed Renuart’s conservative Republican background, such as a belief in “reducing taxes and streamlining regulations” and is not a fan of Medicaid. However, he is open to looking at opportunities to cut costs while retaining quality critical care.
That is where Renuart breaks with Hutson, who does not believe in tax support for Medicaid, in any way.
As for the Smarter Healthcare Coverage in Florida, endorsed by the Florida Chamber of Commerce, Hutson is against it — if it uses any tax revenue.
Federal government funding of 100 percent for Medicaid expansion for the first three years, then 90 percent subsequently? Not if Hutson has any say, regardless of the potential jobs created with $50 billion in federal funding over a decade, as well as hospital care enabled and human suffering prevented.
Hutson advocates a House plan that ultimately covers fewer Floridians than the suggested Medicaid expansion supported by the governor and the Senate at one time.
Although Hutson is somewhat more reasonable on additional issues, the Florida Times-Union says Renuart is the candidate with a more open mind.
