Democrats Furious Over State Surgeon General's Responses: ‘A Waste Of Floridians' Time'

Florida Phoenix

January 26, 2022

As Florida’s surgeon general on Wednesday faced questions in a Senate committee, Democratic members walked out of the room because they felt Dr. Joseph Ladapo refused to give answers to significant questions surrounding vaccine effectiveness and acknowledge a past event involving “disrespect” toward a Democratic senator.

During a Senate hearing for Ladapo’s confirmation, Senate Democratic Leader Lauren Book repeatedly asked Ladapo to give straightforward answers to questions, including whether he regretted the way he refused to wear a mask during a meeting in the fall with state Sen. Tina Polsky, who had asked Ladapo to wear one because she had a serious medical condition at the time.

Ladapo responded: “I have sympathy for her and for other people who are diagnosed with serious conditions. I think it’s important to recognize that. Despite the politics of our environment, it’s a human thing. I sincerely wish her the very best.”

But “You disrespected a member of this Senate, and the Senate as a whole. And I am asking you, do you regret the way you treated our colleague?” said Book, a Democrat representing part of Broward County.

“Do you regret the way you treated our colleague Sen. Polsky when you visited her office and refused to wear a mask when asked?” Book said.

After several attempts to get a yes or no answer from Ladapo, Book got up and walked out of the room. Then she came back and spoke to Republican State Sen. Manny Diaz, Jr., who is chair of the Senate Health Policy committee, a stop on the way to Senate confirmation.

Then, Book told committee chair Diaz that the Florida Senate Democrats were leaving the room during the vote for confirmation of Ladapo. They exited the room but then Book and others eventually came back.

State Sen. Shevrin Jones told the Florida Phoenix that “we left because there was no need for us to sit through a waste of our time and waste of Floridians time,” he said. “We figured we come back when it’s time to deal with real business.”

The 6-0 vote happened without Democrats and the remaining members voted to approve Ladapo’s confirmation. But the full Senate would still need to vote on the confirmation.

Gov. Ron DeSantis had chosen Ladapo to lead the Florida Department of Health but many Democrats raised concerns during the meeting about his past comments, COVID-19 response and ideologies toward vaccines and common-sense safety measures, such as wearing masks.

State Sen. Book also asked Ladapo whether he believes vaccines work.

“I would say the question is a scientific one and it’s one that’s answered with data,” Ladapo said. “I truly am married to my scientific roots,” Ladapo said.

He didn’t say or no or yes.

“Yes or no questions are not that easily defined in science.” Ladapo said.

He added: “What I would say is that the most commonly used vaccines in the United States, which would be the Pfizer product and the product that was developed by Moderna, have been shown to have relatively high effectiveness for the prevention of hospitalization and death. And over time, relatively low protection from infection,” he said.

Sen. Janet Cruz, a Tampa Democrat, said what she hears is “arrogance” from Ladapo’s responses. Cruz eventually asked him about his upbringing.

“I was born in Nigeria…my parents were students. They didn’t have much money at all,” Ladapo said. He said he grew up in Lousiana with his parents. “They empathized education,” he said.

After the hearing, Ladapo was surrounded by reporters asking questions. As to the Democrats walking out, “I wish them well. I have no ill will toward them. I hope we can work together on issues of public health.”

The next step for Ladapo would be the Senate Ethics and Elections Committee, according to Senate spokeswoman Katherine Betta.

A vote to confirm an executive appointee takes place on the Senate floor, Betta said, and when the report is read on the floor, the motion to adopt the report is made by majority vote.

Sen. Bobby Powell, Democratic Leader Pro Tempore, told the Phoenix that even if Democrats walk out or don’t vote, “I don’t think it will have an impact on him (Ladapo’s confirmation.)

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