In case you missed it Rick Scott to sue the Federal Government over healthcare funds

[d_legendary1]

Florida Gov. Rick Scott announced Thursday that his administration will file a lawsuit against the federal government for threatening to withhold more than $1 billion in funding for hospitals if the state fails to expand Medicaid.

“It is appalling that President Obama would cut off federal health care dollars to Florida in an effort to force our state further into Obamacare,” Scott said, citing a 2012 Supreme Court ruling that said the federal government couldn’t put a “gun to the head” of states to force them to expand Medicaid under the health care law.

The Obama administration quickly accused Scott of misconstruing that court decision because the state is not being forced to do anything. And White House spokesman Josh Earnest blasted the governor for putting politics above people.

“It’s difficult to explain how somebody would think that their political situation and their political interest is somehow more important than the livelihoods of 800,000 people,” Earnest said.

Scott’s announcement is the latest salvo in a lengthy battle he has waged with the federal government over health care money — a legacy that stretches from his days as a hospital CEO to his 2010 campaign for governor. Florida was the lead state on the initial lawsuit that challenged the constitutionality of the Affordable Care Act.

In an extra twist, Scott’s latest move further inflamed intra-party tensions in the Republican-controlled Legislature, with the leader of the conservative House backing his action while the president of the moderate Senate denounced it as counterproductive and the Senate’s budget chief questioned whether Scott was pulling “a political stunt.”

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/florida-lawsuit-sue-obamacare-medicaid-rick-scott-117051.html

[House of Roberts]

1. There's more to this, according to

Politifact Florida

The LIP started in 2005 and was renewed until 2013. But when it came time to negotiate another extension for 2014 and beyond, Florida upped the funding request to a whopping $4.5 billion to expand the program. This was after the state refused some $51 billion in Medicaid expansion money over 10 years under the Affordable Care Act, to expand that program to anyone making up to about 133 percent of the poverty level, as the Obama administration wanted. The U.S. Supreme Court in 2012 ruled states had a choice whether to take the money or not.

The upshot of this is, Rick Scott wants to increase his LIP medical slush fund, from $1.3 billion, to $4.5 billion, while turning down an average $5.1 billion per year in direct Medicaid funds which his legislature won’t agree to take.

[d_legendary1]

3. Except Rick Scott doesn't want the money for the poor

He wants the money to balance his budget and give the Kochs their well deserved tax cut.

http://www.tampabay.com/blogs/the-buzz-florida-politics/scotts-budget-13-billion-in-red-after-medicaid-chief-pulls-lip-funding/2217136

[House of Roberts]

4. Aye, and that's why I refered to it as a slush fund.

He can't redirect Medicaid funding as easily.

[hay rick]

2. Rick Scott segues from crooked to evil.

And we have 3+ more years to endure.