Ranking State House Democrat takes different view

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 28, 2012
 
CONTACT:  Mark Hollis
(850) 488-9622
 
 
DEMOCRATIC RANKING MEMBER STATEMENT
REPRESENTATIVE MARK PAFFORD APPLAUDS RULING
ON THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
 
 
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — State Representative Mark Pafford (D-West Palm Beach), the ranking Democrat on the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee, issued a statement following today’s ruling by the U.S. Supreme Court concerning the Affordable Care Act. Below are his remarks:
 
“More than two years ago, President Obama signed the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act into law. It stands as the greatest single step in generations toward ensuring access to affordable, quality healthcare for every American, regardless of where they live or how much money they make.
 
“This year, I sponsored legislation that would have taken the first step in Florida toward creating a health benefits exchange as is required of our state under the Affordable Care Act.  Sadly, arrogance and narrow mindedness of Florida’s current political leadership have left Florida way behind the rest of the country in efforts to provide quality health care. 
 
“Outright defiance of federal law by Florida Governor Rick Scott and Attorney General Pam Bondi have resulted in the abandonment of millions of federal dollars that would have been available to help Floridians get the health care they need. Now, Florida’s government must rush to begin planning the exchange and to address the issue of expanding the state Medicaid program to include more of the insured. They should be embarrassed by their conduct in denying Florida’s most vulnerable and taxpaying residents the right to health care. Shame on them.”
 
Rep. Mark Pafford serves as the Democratic Ranking Member on the House Health Care Appropriations Subcommittee. He can be reached at 561-236-2626.
 
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