Tired of waiting for State Representatives Jose Oliva (R-Hialeah) and Frank Artiles (R-Miami) to do the right thing, Floridians in Miami gathered outside the representatives' campaign fundraiser on June 12, while waving signs and chanting that they demand Medicaid healthcare expansion now.



Legislators in the Florida House of Representatives only pay a little over $8 per month for their health insurance that's funded by our tax dollars, yet Representatives Oliva and Artiles refuse to accept $51 billion of our federal tax dollars to provide healthcare to 1.2 million hardworking Floridians.



The group included men, women and children of all ages, including a young boy who held a sign reading, “Rep. Jose Oliva, We Need Medicaid Expansion Now”.



Ready to stand outside the Coral Gables restaurant all night where Oliva and Artiles were holding their fundraiser, and refusing to give up until their voices were heard, one of the community members was finally invited into the restaurant to speak directly with Oliva.



Community members, some of the many Floridians who support Medicaid healthcare expansion to cover hardworking Floridians who cannot afford health insurance, have been trying to get a meeting with Oliva and Artiles for months without any response.



This time, Oliva took notice, and the community members have a meeting scheduled with him this week to discuss the critical need for healthcare expansion.



In Miami-Dade County alone, 435,679 residents could benefit.