If you see the headline "Kentucky vs Florida," some might immediately think of college basketball or college football. The Wildcats and the Gators. But that wasn't the context at a U.S. House hearing today.
Instead, it was about prescription drug "pill mills" in Florida, that are sending pain killers like Oxycodone up I-75 to many other states, like Georgia and Ohio.
"Florida's problem is a problem for the whole country," admitted Gov. Rick Scott of Florida, who defended his administration's actions to crack down on health clinics that give out mounds of prescriptions, which end up being sold for big money in other states.
"It's clearly Ground Zero," Gov. Scott said, admitting that the Sunshine State is the top supplier by far of these prescription pain killers.
Scott, who is by no means a polished politician, sounded nervous and on the defensive during his testimony, especially when you listened to the sweet southern accent of Gov. Steve Beshear of Kentucky, who politely - but very firmly - told his fellow Governor to act.
"60 percent of the prescription drugs sold and consumed illegally in Kentucky come from the loosely regulated pain clinics in Florida," Beshear said, sitting elbow to elbow with the Florida Governor at the witness table in a House hearing.
Beshear said his state - and others - are suffering because Florida isn't doing enough.
"Let me be frank, our people in Kentucky are dying," the Governor said.
"An average of 82 Kentuckians each month fall victim to drug overdoses; the majority related to prescription drugs," Beshear added, as he calmly pointed the finger of blame at Florida.
Gov. Scott has taken flak from Kentucky and other states in recent months over Florida's effort against "pill mills," with strong criticism about moves to sidetrack a database of prescription customers over concerns about security of personal information.
The Governor of Kentucky said if Scott won't do his job, then the feds should do it for him.
"The Department of Justice must focus more attention and resources on Florida, especially South Florida, to stop the flow of prescription drugs," said Beshear.
While it wasn't a shootout like some had anticipated between Kentucky and Florida, it was still an unusual scene for any Congressional hearing, with one Governor getting critical questions and another clearly getting some Legislative Sympathy.
Kentucky got the best of Florida in the recent SEC Basketball tournament. Florida got the best of Kentucky on the football field again last year.
Who won today might depend on which state you root for.
