New ver$ions of David Rivera?

Here’s the news:

Two South Florida republicans from Hialeah, State Rep. Manny Diaz Jr. and State Sen. Rene Garcia, filed bills last week in Tallahassee seeking to stop U.S. medical students from studying medicine in Cuba and then practicing in Florida. A statement issued by Diaz says, “U.S students who turn a blind eye to basic human and civil rights abuses in Cuba do not possess the moral clarity to serve patients in Florida.”

The Cuban government offers a free medical training program that has drawn in thousands of students from around the world, including many from the United States. After completing their studies, students routinely return to their communities – some right here in the U.S. – to serve underprivileged and underserved constituents.

Now my statement:

It seems these two want to pick up where former U.S. representative and member of the Florida legislature David Rivera left off. I personally don’t know Manny Diaz, although he sure has started his legislative career on the wrong foot. But as for Garcia…

This proponent of basic human and civil rights has a rap sheet in the Florida legislature of supporting the opposite. Briefly: Florida has a history of abuse often leading to violence and death in assisted living facilities (ALF) around the state. These are supposed to be homes where those who can’t take care of themselves (like some elderly, for example) are sometimes sent.

But it seems the morally bound Garcia, known around Hialeah more for his pretty boy status than his smarts, sponsored a law in 2011 to cut back penalties against ALF caretakers and reduce the state’s power to close troubled homes. Garcia’s senate district contains more than 100 ALFs. And as reported by The Miami Herald, they include “some of the most heavily fined homes in Miami-Dade.”

Garcia’s law would have reduced the state’s power to close those troubled homes. It would have removed key protections for the Residents Bill of Rights allowing residents to report abuse, while also taking away the state’s right to revoke licenses.

Oh! Did I mention the industry has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to some of these politicians since 2007? Garcia himself received (at least the reported kind) $8,100 in contributions before his law was passed.

Gov. Rick Scott (not necessarily a stalwart for what’s right in government) found the law so outrageous, irresponsible and unconstitutional he had to veto it.

Now you be the judge: you have two South Florida legislators who want to disallow doctors who will offer their time for very little pay in underserved communities, while they promote and support deregulation of an industry that sees medicine as a business and is out of control in Florida. 

Alvaro F. Fernandez