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Tampa Bay business leaders push Gov. Rick Scott to support expanding Medicaid

 
Published May 27, 2015

The pro-business, largely Republican coalition of Tampa Bay executives and power brokers looks like a group that would be largely supportive of Gov. Rick Scott.

Its ranks include a restaurateur praised by Scott in this year's State of the State address and a Scott-appointed member of the Tampa International Airport board.

Yet, the group spoke in one voice to tell the governor it disagrees with his opposition to expanding Medicaid to cover hundreds of thousands of uninsured Floridians.

A series of April letters written by heads of businesses ranging from Tampa General Hospital to BayCare Health System to the Tampa Bay Rays urged Scott to consider expanding the controversial program.

"We want what is best for Florida's economy," read the letters, which were recently obtained by the Tampa Bay Times through a public records request. "Across the board, the economics of coverage expansion make sense for Florida."

The leaders of 22 businesses participated in the letter-writing campaign.

The campaign was organized by the No Name Group, a Tampa bloc of influential businesspeople. Among those sending letters were restaurateur Richard Gonzmart, lawyer Gary Sasso, beer distributor Thomas Pepin, business leader Chuck Sykes and real estate developer Gary Harrod, whom Scott appointed to the Hillsborough County Aviation Authority board in 2013.

Kathleen Shanahan, chairman and CEO of Uretek Holdings and a member of the group, said progress was the most important thing to the coalition.

"I don't know that (the letters are) necessarily in opposition to the governor," said Shanahan, who was chief of staff for former Gov. Jeb Bush. "Our position was 'get something done.' "

She said progress has been made since the letters were written.

Nevertheless, the governor doubled down on his anti-expansion stance Tuesday.

"The Senate's plan to expand Medicaid under Obamacare will cost Florida taxpayers $5 billion over 10 years," Scott said in a release.

Scott's statement was made on the heels of an announcement by Senate President Andy Gardiner of a new, scaled-back Medicaid expansion proposal.

Other groups continue to emerge in support of expanding Medicaid. Today, U.S. Rep. Kathy Castor, D-Tampa, is hosting an event at the St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce for business leaders and politicians to push for the expansion.

Kirby Wilson can be reached at kwilson@tampabay.com or (727) 893-8092. Follow @kirbywilson88.