At a press conference today in Tampa, Congresswoman Kathy Castor was joined by former State Senator Arthenia Joyner Olivia Babis, and activist Karen Clay to call out Rick Scott’s refusal to stand up to the Trump administration’s attacks on protections for those with pre-existing conditions.

“We are here to tell Rick Scott to stop his assault on affordable healthcare. We’ve learned in the past two weeks that the Trump administration wants to toss protections for pre-existing conditions out the window. What they couldn’t do through law, they’re doing through the courts,” said Congresswoman Kathy Castor. “We need to know who is on our side in the fight for high-quality affordable healthcare, and it is clear that Rick Scott is not. Simply put, Scott’s long record of working to dismantle protections for those with pre-existing conditions doesn’t match his new rhetoric.”

“Before Rick Scott ran for public office, he was best known for his massive fraud case, where he over-billed Medicare. But Scott never learned, and never changed,” said former State Senator Arthenia Joyner. “Republicans like Trump and Scott want to give free reign to the insurance companies to reject those with pre-existing conditions. Diabetes, high cholesterol, you name it — these people will not be able to get affordable coverage if Scott and the Republicans have their way. That is why elections matter.”

“As someone who has had to contend with a pre-existing condition my entire life, the pre-existing clause is extremely important to me. There are even times where I had to forgo treatment because I did not have the insurance policies that I needed,” said Olivia Babis. “We need to build off the Affordable Care Act, not tear it down. It is disheartening that Florida has joined in a lawsuit to attack the ACA, when you have millions of people with pre-existing conditions who would be impacted.”

“We are here to ask Rick Scott, where do you stand on pre-existing conditions. When members of the disability caucus asked him that last week, we were met with silence,” said Karen Clay. “Rick Scott is no friend of the disabled and those with pre-existing conditions. Rick Scott and the current administration have failed countless Floridians who depend on quality, affordable healthcare.”