Economist Alan Green, who will be teaching at Stetson University beginning in August, says that he and his peers were dumbfounded by Florida House Republicans' refusal to accept $51 billion in federal funds over a decade to provide health coverage for the low-income uninsured beginning next year.
In a column for the Tampa Bay Times, Green explained that the money comes from higher taxes on the rich and concessions by parts of the health-care system that will be paid by Floridians. But by turning down the money from the Affordable Care Act for Medicaid expansion, Florida won't get any of the benefits.
He predicted that the decision will create an economic slump in Florida and other states that turned down the funds.
The extra spending in other states will create jobs there, and businesses and jobs will head to those states where people have more money to spend, he predicted.
