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Bush calls for compromise on Medicaid

 
Published April 18, 2015

Jeb Bush was known more as a my-way-or-the-highway governor than a compromiser, but campaigning in New Hampshire last week he called on Florida and federal leaders to hammer out a deal to overcome a stalemate over funding hospital care and expanding Medicaid.

"The feds and the executive branch and representatives from the (Florida) House and Senate ought to get together and try to forge a compromise," he said, while campaigning in Concord on Thursday.

Would such a compromise involve expanding Medicaid, as proposed under the Affordable Care Act and rejected by the GOP-controlled Florida government in the past? "I don't know," Bush told reporters. "That's their job, frankly. Expanding Medicaid without reforming it is not going to solve our problems over the long run."

The standoff has effectively halted the annual lawmaking session, with no state budget deal in sight. Gov. Rick Scott intends to sue the Obama administration over its threat to withhold federal funds for hospitals that treat the poor.

GOP poll favors Rubio

A Mason-Dixon poll of Florida Republicans released Friday found Marco Rubio now effectively tied with Bush — winning 31 percent support to 30 percent for Bush — a marked improvement for Rubio compared with other Florida polls this year. It could merely be a temporary bump due to Rubio's campaign announcement, but it points to a potentially tight Florida contest between two Miami friends.

Rubio also is viewed more favorably among Republicans, with 66 percent saying they viewed the senator favorably and only 7 percent unfavorably. Compare that with Bush, viewed favorably by 57 percent of Republicans and unfavorably by 17 percent.

"And although the sub-sample is very small and has a high margin for error, the role of Hispanic GOP voters will be of huge importance," pollster Brad Coker noted. "With Bush ahead among white Republicans, Rubio's thin lead is the result of his stronger support from Hispanics. However, Hispanic voters are also more highly conflicted, with 31 percent saying they are undecided. This is more than twice the percentage of undecided white Republicans (14 percent)."

Quote of the week

"To hell with the diet," Jeb Bush, a moment before breaking his Paleo Diet on Thursday in New Hampshire with a piece of blueberry pie.

Where's that sword?

We've been wondering for some time what happened to the sword Bush gave Rubio, a symbol of Bush passing the conservative torch as Rubio prepared to take over as Florida House speaker.

On Friday, Rubio answered the question.

"I have it somewhere at home," he told reporters in New Hampshire. "I have young kids. I don't want them to run around with a sword."

Ingoglia multitasks

If you wondered how effectively state Rep. Blaise Ingoglia, R-Spring Hill, could balance his legislative work with serving as chairman of the Florida GOP, you may really question how he is also finding the time to involve himself in an internal Florida House GOP leadership coup.

It seems Rep. Eric Eisnaugle, R-Orlando, is losing his grip on the House speakership for 2020. (Yes, absurdly enough, legislators pick their leaders so far in advance), and Ingoglia is angling to replace him.

'Bad for Florida'

Americans for Prosperity is launching a statewide social media ad campaign that calls Medicaid expansion "bad for Florida." The group has previously aired TV ads going after Republicans supporting the expansion for budget reasons.

Obama in Florida

President Barack Obama will travel to the Everglades on Wednesday for an Earth Day event to call attention to climate change.

GOP's Senate concern

Remember Mel Martinez?

He's the last Republican U.S. Senate candidate in Florida who won in a presidential election year. Democrats have won three of the past four Senate races that took place on the presidential cycle — a fact that's giving pause to some little-known potential GOP hopefuls as they eye the seat being vacated by Rubio.

The possibility that favorite sons Rubio or Bush will be the standard-bearer atop the Florida GOP ticket in 2016 obviously would boost the prospects of the party's Senate nominee. But it's not lost on Republicans that President Barack Obama captured Florida in 2008 and 2012 and, at this early juncture, the GOP lacks a marquee candidate who can blow away a crowded primary field.

Alex Leary, Steve Bousquet and Mary Ellen Klas contributed to this week's Buzz.