It's been a busy week for me so I haven't had a chance to track developments out of the Sunshine State as closely as I was last week as they pertain to healthcare fraudster Republican Governor Rick Scott's decision to repeal the state's Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP).
As refresher, here's my diary history on the subject, oldest to newest:
FL Gov. Scott's Oxycontin problem (UPDATED x4)
Some Updates to FL Gov. Rick Scott's "OxyContin problem"
KY Gov. Beshear to FL Gov. Scott: Stop the "Pill Mills"
FL Gov. Scott's drug problem is giving him headaches
FL Gov. Scott's pet "pill mills" took a major hit yesterday
FL Gov. Scott: pill peddler pushes "privacy" red herring
"Has Florida finally elected a certifiable whack job as governor?"
FL Gov. Scott's "pill mill" problem - there's no end to the crazy
New to this story? In short, bogus "doctors" practicing out of "pain clinics" throughout the state of Florida prescribe more powerful addictive prescription meds than the other 49 states combined, contributing to a skyrocketing rate of overdose within the state, and a flood of illegally-obtained drugs like OxyContin, Percoset, Vicodin, etc, up the "flamingo express" to other states up and down the Eastern seaboard, with devasting consequences particularly in Appalachian regions of Kentucky, Tennessee and West Virginia.
If it weren't for all of the other instances of Republican overreach in states like Wisconsin and Ohio, along with Scott's own headline-grabbing rejection of federal high-speed rail dollars, I believe this story would otherwise be getting more attention in the national media. A couple of new developments explaining this diary's headline after the jump...
I have used Virginia Chamlee of the Florida Independent as a source previously. She's back this week with new reporting:
Buchanan introduces bill ‘to crack down’ on pill mills
"Buchanan" is US House Rep. Vern Buchanan of Sarasota (FL-13), Gov. Scott's fellow Republican.
Rep. Vern Buchanan, R-Sarasota, today announced a piece of legislation “to crack down” on Florida’s pill mills. If enacted, the law will “double the penalties and triple the fines for drug violators” and use assets seized to fund prescription drug databases in states like Florida. According to a press release, it will also “reclassify one of the most abused and deadly narcotics to make it more difficult to obtain.”
So, if you've been following Rachel Maddow's reporting this week of small "c" conservativism vs. "big government" conservatism, it seems that FL Gov. Scott's decision at the state level has prompted FL-13 Rep. Buchanan to attempt to "big foot" conservative championing of deferring to the states. With me so far?
Back at the state level, Gov. Scott is also facing opposition from powerful Republican State Senator Mike Fasano, among others. Back to Champlee's reporting:
State Sen. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey, who has long championed the implementation of a state Drug Monitoring Program, said Scott’s decision was “beyond his comprehension.” Both Attorney General Pam Bondi and Senate President Mike Haridopolis have also come out in support of the program.
snip
Fasano recently filed his own pill mill asset seizure bill (Senate Bill 1238) that would place money into the Crimes Compensation Trust Fund, which is used to help victims recoup costs due to a crime committed upon them. Greg Giordano, Fasano’s chief legislative assistant, called Buchanan’s legislation “a great idea.”
Here's a link to the text of Fasano's S.B 1238 (.pdf)
Here's Rep. Buchanon's press release: Buchanan Announces Bill to Crack Down on Pill Mills which includes these fun facts:
Five Facts About Prescription Drugs & Pill Mills
1) Florida is home to 1,300 pill mills – The most in the U.S.
2) Florida prescribes 10 times more oxycodone pills than all other states combined.
3) Seven people die every day in Florida from prescription drug abuse.
4) Florida has more pain clinics than McDonald’s restaurants.
5) 22 Arrested and $2.5 Million seized in Florida pill mill raid last month.
So I've asked (repeatedly) before and I'll ask again today more pointedly, why is FL Gov. Scott trying so hard to protect drug dealing sham doctors?