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By Times Staff
WASHINGTON ? Gov.-elect Rick Scott met with members of Florida's congressional delegation in Washington on Tuesday and heard a litany of concerns: jobs, Medicaid funding, foreclosures and the BP oil spill.
Then came the fireworks.
Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, D-Weston, started it, urging Scott not to spend time and energy trying to repeal the new health care law. But Scott, unflappable at the head of the table, said that's exactly what he's going to do, calling the law the biggest "job killer ever in the history of this country."
"But more important for the state short term," he added, "is the cost of Medicaid. That will be my first focus."
Wasserman Schultz shot back, saying "since it's unlikely" a health care repeal would be successful, Scott should set other priorities. He did not react.
But Rep. Jeff Miller, a Panhandle Republican, chimed in, telling Scott to spend as much time as he has available on the repeal effort. Laughter filled the room, which was more heavily Republican, thanks to the November elections. Four Democrats from Florida lost their seats to the GOP. There are now 19 Republican House members and six Democrats.
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