Central Florida Congressman Darren Soto spoke against cuts to Medicaid, including KidCare, and nursing home care during the House Energy & Commerce Full Committee Markup of Budget Reconciliation Text.
The Central Florida Democrat said it was “Ebenezer Scrooge Day at the Capitol” as he warned against the Republicans’ plans. In Florida’s Ninth Congressional District, over 158,000 constituents rely on Medicaid programs, totaling 19% of the district’s population.
Here are Democratic Rep. Darren Soto’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
“It’s Ebenezer Scrooge Day at the Capitol today. Taking healthcare from the poor to fund tax cuts for the rich.
“I’m sure Scrooge would think this is a very fine plan. A very fine plan, indeed. Of course, he’s a billionaire hedge fund manager and he’s thrilled about paying even less in taxes.
“We have a few perspectives to guide us.
“First, it’s my favorite: The Ghost of Congress Past. The 115th Congress, y’all may remember that. Where former GOP Congressman Jacob Marley, a frontliner, reminds you how he lost his seat, as well as 20 other Republicans, because you went after Obamacare, KidCare, and Medicaid. 20 seats lost and the majority.
“Then, of course, there’s the Ghost of Congress Present. The Cratchit family, of course, is on Medicaid. They have a disabled child, Tiny Tim. There’s Ebenezer’s beloved Fanny—she’s on the ACA. 63 years old. And then Fred Scrooge. He thinks he’s fine because he gets his healthcare through the employer.
“But we know what’s gonna happen in the future. You passed this terrible bill and you cut $715 billion from the program. You can’t just cut that and not have people lose health insurance.
“We know for a fact 13.7 million Americans will lose health insurance, including the Cratchit family. Of course, Tiny Tim dies in this scenario. Fanny finds out her Obamacare increases by $10,000. And of course, Fred Scrooge is shocked that his employer-based healthcare went up by 25% because people are flooding the emergency room because they’re sick and they’re uninsured.
“Of course, this is not some fairytale. In real life, back in my district, in Florida’s Ninth, these are the kids from McCoy Elementary. Half the kids in my district are on Medicaid, they’re on KidCare. It’s a wildly popular program. You can’t cut $715 billion from Medicaid, and then not have this affect our kids.
“And then I got to go to Providence Assisted Living. A nursing home in my district. I met George. He’s a veteran, he’s partially in a wheelchair. 25% of the seniors in this assisted living facility get their coverage through Medicaid.
“Don’t be a Scrooge!
“Don’t vote for this terrible bill that’s gonna cut Medicaid, cut KidCare, cut nursing home care all to fund tax cuts for the rich and powerful.”
Darren Soto lies and calls Medicaid, “INSURANCE.” It’s not insurance; it is “WELFARE,” and it represents how the government has decided to pay medical bills for poorer individuals. Centene, the largest provider of Medicaid and Obamacare in the USA, is losing a Class Action RICO Act lawsuit for “FRAUD.” DeSantis is accused of taking $10 million from Centene’s fraud fine in Florida. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Centene takes $370M to insure Chicago’s “FOSTER” children, and these at-risk children wait a year to see a doctor. This means dead children. Darren Soto wants to keep Florida children with the deadly Centene because he takes bribes from the insurance industry.
Republican Marcus Carter, who is running to replace Darren Soto in Florida’s 9th district, personally told me that he supports President Trump’s American Healthcare Act of 2017, which includes age-based subsidies of $2,000 for individuals aged 30 and younger. Democrats blocked Trumpcare, thus preserving Obamacare and Medicaid for Centene. Marcus Carter stated, “If Trumpcare had passed, every Florida child would have $2,000 to buy insurance on the Free and Open Market. Allstate’s guaranteed-renewable, zero-deductible insurance for a child costs $1,320 annually, meaning Trumpcare would cover 100% of Florida’s children’s health insurance, plus deposit the $680 unused subsidy into the child’s tax-free HSA at the bank, amounting to $56 monthly for medical, vision, or dental expenses. With Trumpcare, all of Florida’s children would have insurance today.” Finally here is a Florida politician who supports Free and Open Markets and Republican Healthcare Reform. He isn’t the only one because Aaron Baker running in the Florida 6th against zero-ideas Randy Fine supports Trumpcare too.
Aaron Baker said, “It’s bad in Florida with over-priced Blue Cross. Blue Cross is charging Flagler teachers an eye-watering $1,130 monthly to insure ONE child with a $4,000 still owed with a hospitalization!” Finally, we have a couple of future Florida Congressmen who aren’t bought off by Blue Cross, which gives more to Florida politicians than any other company. It’s too bad Doug Wheeler of the James Madison Institute, who earns a lot of money, won’t write about the truth and the free markets that Trumpcare utilizes. Vote for Aaron Baker and Marcus Carter in 2026, and put Republican Randy Fine and Democrat Darren Soto back in the private sector where they belong.