Why is it that one of the most unpopular governors in the country is able to attract so much celebrity attention (even if it's not POSITIVE attention)?
The musician, who founded the Elton John AIDS Foundation, wrote to Scott because he'd heard the Department of Health was thinking of changing the income eligibility for a program that helps poor HIV/AIDS victims get medication. A department spokeswoman said there are "no immediate plans" to change the program.
Frank Cerabino, columnist for the Palm Beach Post, may have hit on a reason for all the attention being heaped on Scott. It could be the "Welcome to Florida" signs that now greet people as they enter the Sunshine State. Cerabino was trying to figure out why Scott, who vetoed $615 million of an already frugal budget, would spend $8,800 to have his name added to the highway signs.
It's a warning sign.
When travelers cross into the state and see "Governor Rick Scott," it works on the same level as "Low Flying Aircraft," "Rock Slide Area" or "Slow: Children Playing."Or, we might add, some may be visiting with thoughts that they'd be safe from escaped prisoners. "Oh, dear," the wife would say. "Governor Rick Scott. He's that privatizer who wants to turn our prisons over to for-profit corporations that won't do as good a job preventing escapes as government workers."
So it's only fair that we warn visitors that they've entered a state run by a corporate pirate.
Some may be visiting with thoughts of moving to Florida and enrolling their children in Florida's public schools.
"Oh, dear," the wife would say. "Governor Rick Scott. He's that voucher schemer who wants to dismantle public education and screw public school teachers. He's the guy who cut per-pupil spending, even though Florida was already 41st in the country in per-pupil spending. Maybe we should turn around...."
