Rick Scott’s “Surprise” at Republican Deficit Spending Doesn’t Surprise Democrats

TAMPA — The U.S. Senate narrowly approved President Donald Trump’s signature tax-cut and spending legislation Tuesday, with Vice President J.D. Vance breaking a 50-50 tie. Florida Republican Senator Rick Scott supported the measure despite publicly admitting surprise at the bill’s extreme deficit spending.

"In this bill, there are many spending projects you will be surprised to see with our nation more than $37 trillion in debt. I was, too," Scott stated following his vote. He added that the controversial spending was part of the "imperfect process" of legislative compromise.

Florida Democrats, long familiar with Scott, were unsurprised that Scott’s rhetoric about deficits didn’t match his vote.

Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers criticized Scott's admission of surprise at the spending: "How do we tell our children to not follow the crowd, to make their own decisions, yet as adults in Congress they follow the crowd and they don’t make their own decisions," Flowers said.

State Rep. Fentrice Driskell said the bill was "a big, ugly hit to Florida’s health care system," noting it cuts $800 billion from Medicaid and jeopardizes health coverage for millions of Floridians, including children.

"These cuts would leave hospitals underfunded, communities underserved, and families in crisis," Driskell added. "Your county will be required to foot the bill for indigent care so billionaires get a tax break."

The bill is currently headed toward final approval in the House, where Republicans have held the chamber open all night in order to meet the president’s goal of a July 4th signing. It is expected to eventually pass narrowly with only Republican support.