From Jeb's 2nd inaugural speech:

"There would be no greater tribute to our maturity as a society than if we can make these buildings around us empty of workers; silent monuments to the time when government played a larger role than it deserved or could adequately fill."

It was hard for Polk HealthCare Plan employees to tell uninsured Polk County residents that the sales-tax-funded plan had closed to new enrollments in early June.

But the real heartbreak - for them and for patients - is happening this month. Many people calling to re-enroll are being told they can't stay with the plan. Not only is its income eligibility shrinking to 100 percent or less of federal poverty guidelines, employees are having to deny re-enrollment to some whose income is that low.

The indigent-care plan, in which 19,020 Polk residents were enrolled during this fiscal year, must shrink to about 3,000 people to make up a deficit expected to be $14 million to $15 million, Assistant County Manager Lea Ann Thomas said.

..."Think about a woman with heart problems and insulin-dependent diabetes learning she can't stay on the plan even though her income is at, or close to, 100 percent of the poverty guidelines. Or a man who had heart attacks and has severe lung disease being told that the plan, which got him medication and doctor care, no longer is open to him. The man has been trying unsuccessfully for disability, said a friend who e-mailed asking where else he could go.

These are two examples of people who said they're being told they won't get the plan's assistance in 2008-09.