Scott v Sink debate

[Smiling JOe]

Oh yes, that's right he was in hospitals ripping off the taxpayers, but it was Columbia/HCA, right? Is he hiding his position at Health South Rehab? I cannot find any connection with him and that company. I get confused with all the political commercials. It is so difficult to keep them all straight. After his hospital run, He had an investment company, a plastics company, software security company, a website business where hospitals and doctors could post rates and info, a mechanical manufacturing company, and supposedly some bowling alleys and fun centers. I'm sure he will make a great governor. Just think about it, he already knows how to rip off the taxpayers. He'll be perfect!

"Adelaide "Alex" Sink, a former statewide president for NationsBank (now Bank of America)."

Given that NationsBank and Bank of America are known for such crappy customer service and ripping off its customers, I'm sure that Sink will also make a great governor.

 

[30ashopper]

Here's the politifact take on it:

PolitiFact Florida | GOP says Alex Sink gave bonuses to state pension workers who lost billions

Sounds like the bonuses in question were essentially overtime pay for people not normally elgible for overtime pay during a short time when they went above and beyond in terms of work hours.

I am not overly fond of the money lost on the Stuyvesant Town real estate mess, but overall FRS seems to have done better managing my pension account than a lot of the defined contribution options available to certain classes of state employees.

That seems like a reasonable assessment. I think these are valid issues regarding Sink, and Scott has issues as well. As I've said before, I'm not a fan of either candidate.

I would like to know a bit more about one issue raised in the debate, specifically this high speed rail project. I felt Scott had the better answer on that, Sink never clarified her position. The FEDs are not going to fund that project entirely, so I wonder if Sink would veto the project if the funds we're not available or if the project could not fund itself through fees. The last thing we need in Florida is a state run Amtrak.

This is the type of issue that really matters. Back in the day, I really appreciated Bush's regular use of the veto pen, even when the projects were added to bills by republicans in the legislature. (As we all know, R / D doesn't necessarily indicate ?fiscal conservative? in the legislature.) I wonder how often Sink and Scott would use the veto pen?

 

[beachmouse]

I really wish that Florida high speed rail had stayed dead the first time around, but it's apparently an 'effing vampire project. But its supporters are an oddball mix of environmentalists and some really huge business players in the state. In the 90s version of the plan, the Orlando station was so very conveniently located next to Disneyplanet, thanks to lobbying by The Mouse. And other big tourism players are fond of the plan because it makes for easier connections within the big three tourist areas.

I'm actually pretty pro-mass transit and pro-railroad When It Makes Sense. But IMO, Florida just doesn't have the critical mass of high population density areas for it to make sense like it does in the US Northeast corridor or high to very high population density western Europe or Japan.

 

[beachmouse]

Also making his fortune on the backs of state residents. Columbia HCA owns both Ft. Walton Beach Medical Center and Twin Cities hospital. So they're the effective monopoly provider of hospital care for 80% of Okaloosa County. And they price services accordingly.

Health care prices for common procedures in those hospitals are among the most expensive, if not the most expensive in the Southeast. During the late 90s/early 00s, we had something like four different group insurance providers in four years because the previous insurer kept pulling out of the county altogether. The reason- Columbia HCA refused to negotiate any sort of competitive price for hospital service in the county. Crack out the actuarial tables, and it cost the insurance company 30% more per client per year to provide services in Okaloosa County than it did for that same insurance company to provide the same menu of services to a similar client in Escambia County, which has an actual competitive market for hospital services.

And a lot health insurance companies decided Okaloosa was too small of a market to be worth the huge expense per client and bailed. The ones remaining passed on costs to their clients, who passed on costs to employees, and Rick Scott has cost me literally thousands of dollars in higher insurance premiums since we moved down here because of Columbia HCA's pricing structures.

And that's the other reason why I utterly loathe Rick Scott.

 

[Smiling JOe]

I think the most interesting part of the clip behind the scenes of Scott rightfully accusing Sink as not playing by the rules in the debate, is that Scott didn't play by the rules when his company bilked taxpayers out lots of money, yet it is someone else in his mind, who doesn't play by the rules.

I just want to know who the two whistle blowers are who reportedly received $500 million, paid by Scott's former company, as part of the verdict. That's a lot of money for some tattle telling.

I'm going to find it difficult to vote for either Sink or Scott. I may leave that checkbox blank.

 

[Andy A]

I think the most interesting part of the clip behind the scenes of Scott rightfully accusing Sink as not playing by the rules in the debate, is that Scott didn't play by the rules when his company bilked taxpayers out lots of money, yet it is someone else in his mind, who doesn't play by the rules.

I just want to know who the two whistle blowers are who reportedly received $500 million, paid by Scott's former company, as part of the verdict. That's a lot of money for some tattle telling.

I'm going to find it difficult to vote for either Sink or Scott. I may leave that checkbox blank.

Its not a "checkbox", you fill in the oval.

 

[scooterbug44]

Scott was already running ads about Sink cheating during the debate this morning. :roll:

 

[Andy A]

Look for one from Sink putting some kind of spin on it later in the day. They're both like a couple of kindergartners.

 

[30ashopper]

No matter who wins, Sink deserves an award for "best political spin" of the race!

CNN: Sink lied about debate cheating ? Hot Air

Uh oh, CNN claims her "mom" excuse is total B.S..

Such a silly issue, but elections can easily be lost on such things. Remember Howard Dean's scream?

YouTube - The Dean Scream vs The Hillary Cackle

 

[AlphaCrab]

Sink should just do what Scott has done during the time his hospital group bilked Medicare out of millions...just plead the 5th.... (except she, as opposed to Scott, will not need to do it 37 times !)