Scott signs off on new state university

[Baitball Blogger]

TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott, ignoring calls for a veto from influential business leaders, signed a measure into law Friday that will create the state's 12th public university.

The legislation was just one of nearly 30 bills Scott signed. He also vetoed four others dealing with early learning, insurance and the state employee health insurance program.

snip

But critics questioned the idea of establishing a start-up university during a year when the overall state university system had its state funding cut by $300 million. The school also will not initially have any students since current USF students will be allowed to remain enrolled at the branch campus.

"This move is nothing more than an appalling and wasteful power play by the Republicans in Tallahassee," said Florida Democratic Party spokeswoman Brannon Jordan. "The people of Florida didn't ask for this university, they don't need it and can't afford it."

http://articles.orlandosentinel.com/2012-04-20/news/os-florida-12th-university-20120420_1_12th-public-university-scott-signs-rick-scott

[DonCoquixote]

1. This is because

We have an appaling Good old Boy by the name of JD alexander who is God down here. This university will be on HIS land, at the end of a highway to nowehere he demands. It's funny how the Polk Countyu good ol boys hate us Yankees, but they seem to love someone whose whole mission id to bulldoze the stae and move more Yakees down here.

Rick, between this and kiling the high speed rail, you have set this state back decades.

[freshwest]

4. Damn, what's that smell? Corruption in the Capitol, that's it. Unfrigging believable!

Thanks for the story behind the news there. Feel bad for you guys down there. It happens though...

[Baitball Blogger]

5. How do you suppose he's going to get financing for that school five years down the road

when Alexander is no longer in charge?

The way they do things in that area, they will probably use public money to build it, and then they will privatize it.

[RKP5637]

2. Politicians never give a damn what the people want except for

manipulated election promises.

[unkachuck]

3. What a snob....n/t

[DCKit]

6. It's my opinion that state residents don't get word about these bills.

You have to look a lot harder to find out what the state legislature is doing behind your back.

[DonCoquixote]

7. not true here

Mainly because Florida has been caught so many times sneaking bad bills in that we all get antsy the minute two state senators so much as take a smoke break outside. However, what happened here is that everybody, including Rick, fears JD Alexander, aka old Florida money, aka the king of Florida.

[DCKit]

8. GOOD!!!! nt

[spanone]

9. when you elect a criminal to run your state, this should be no surprise

rick scott...

Columbia/HCA fraud case details
On March 19, 1997, investigators from the FBI, the Internal Revenue Service and the Department of Health and Human Services served search warrants at Columbia/HCA facilities in El Paso and on dozens of doctors with suspected ties to the company.[21] The Columbia/HCA board of directors pressured Scott to resign as Chairman and CEO following the inquiry.[22] He was paid $9.88 million in a settlement. He also left owning 10 million shares of stock worth over $350 million.[23][24][25] In 1999, Columbia/HCA changed its name back to HCA, Inc.
In settlements reached in 2000 and 2002, Columbia/HCA pled guilty to 14 felonies and agreed to a $600+ million fine in the largest fraud settlement in US history. Columbia/HCA admitted systematically overcharging the government by claiming marketing costs as reimbursable, by striking illegal deals with home care agencies, and by filing false data about use of hospital space. They also admitted fraudulently billing Medicare and other health programs by inflating the seriousness of diagnoses and to giving doctors partnerships in company hospitals as a kickback for the doctors referring patients to HCA. They filed false cost reports, fraudulently billing Medicare for home health care workers, and paid kickbacks in the sale of home health agencies and to doctors to refer patients. In addition, they gave doctors "loans" never intending to be repaid, free rent, free office furniture, and free drugs from hospital pharmacies.[4][5][6][7][8]
In late 2002, HCA agreed to pay the U.S. government $631 million, plus interest, and pay $17.5 million to state Medicaid agencies, in addition to $250 million paid up to that point to resolve outstanding Medicare expense claims.[26] In all, civil law suits cost HCA more than $2 billion to settle, by far the largest fraud settlement in US history.[27]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Scott