Florida Democrats whack Rick Scott on anniversary of Medicare

On the anniversary of Medicare, Florida Democrats accused Republican U.S. Sen. Rick Scott of plotting to destroy the popular program.

In a video call dubbed a “Medicare birthday,” leaders including Democratic U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Florida Democratic Party Chair Nikki Fried ripped Scott for a two-year-old plan to sunset most federal spending.

“I’m so grateful that we can still celebrate this landmark improvement in our lives,” said Wasserman Schultz, Democratic Co-Chair of Florida’s congressional delegation. “But you know who will never get an invite to this party? Sen. Rick Scott.”

While it’s unlikely a Republican Senator will ever feature prominently at a Democratic Party-organized event, this specific slight stems from Scott’s 11-point “Rescue America” plan, released in 2022 when he chaired the Republican Senatorial Campaign Committee.

The plan was panned by Democrats and even Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell. The most common attack was against a promise to sunset and review all federal programs after five years, something critics quickly labeled as an attack on Medicare and Social Security.

Scott, for his part, has insisted he never intended to threaten the future of Medicare. Last year, he amended his plan to explicitly drop Medicare and Social Security from the scrutiny he wants for other programs. Earlier this year, he criticized President Joe Biden and Democrats for cuts to Medicare Advantage benefits.

“President Biden has no plan to protect Social Security, and now he just cut Medicare benefits. Biden’s war on seniors is disastrous — especially for seniors on fixed incomes who are already struggling with skyrocketing inflation,” Scott said in April.

But Democrats said they won’t forget Scott’s prior statements, which include a call to cut federal spending in half.

“Another six years with Rick Scott in the Senate would be absolutely devastating for Floridians struggling to afford health care — especially our seniors,” Fried said. “Florida has the largest proportion of seniors of any state in the country, yet Rick Scott wants to rip away seniors’ health care and throw their lives into chaos.”

The livestream took place 59 years after Democratic President Lyndon Johnson signed Medicare and Medicaid into law. Notably, Fried has also released a joint statement with Democratic Chairs in three other states slamming Republican leadership in Florida, Georgia, Texas and Mississippi for refusing a Medicaid expansion allowed since 2010.

The Florida Democratic Party stream did not feature any of the Democratic candidates currently seeking the nomination to challenge Scott in November. Former U.S. Rep. Debbie Mucarsel-Powell, businessman Stanley Campbell and others will face each other in an Aug. 20 Democratic Primary to determine a nominee.

Social Security advocates joined the party call to slam Scott.

“Before Medicare was enacted, 56% of American seniors had no health insurance. … More than 1 in 4 seniors went without medical care altogether,” said Max Richtman, President of the National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare.

“This Fall, Florida’s voters have a chance to send a message to Rick Scott: We are not going back to those days. Out of all 100 Senators, Rick Scott has perhaps the most egregious record when it comes to Medicare.”

Florida senior advocate Barbara DeVane, herself a Medicare recipient, agreed.

“We will be going to the voting booth and taking others with us because it is our duty as leaders and advocates for retirees to go forth — from now until Nov. 5 — to educate, motivate, activate and agitate so we can eliminate people like Rick Scott from elected office. He would eliminate our very livelihoods through gutting Social Security and Medicare,” DeVane said.

Local Democratic leaders made clear they intend to bludgeon Scott with the issue this year.

“Medicare ensures that seniors like me can get the health care they need without fearing they’ll go bankrupt,” said Rose LaChapelle, Sarasota County Democratic Senior Caucus President.

“It’s unconscionable to think that a politician who represents the state with the largest senior population would want to take that away. It’s baffling that Rick Scott has continuously attacked a program so important to the livelihoods of the very people he was elected to represent.”