Committee votes to approve Dr. Joseph Ladapo as Florida surgeon general, confirmation process continues

Florida’s surgeon general is one step closer to officially being the state’s top doctor.

On Wednesday, the Committee on Health Policy voted to recommend Dr. Joseph Ladapo’s confirmation.

Ladapo made headlines within the medical community for his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The next steps for his confirmation process include getting through 85 minutes of hard, heated questioning from Florida Senate Democrats.

Republicans didn’t say much but they’re in the majority so they didn’t really have to.

Aaron Bean was the lone GOP senator to question Ladapo during his confirmation hearing.

Ladapo said he took on the job because of his “deep commitment to helping other people.”

Senate Democrats, meanwhile, made it clear they don’t think Ladapo is much help to anyone.

State Sen. Shevrin Jones asked Ladapo if he regrets calling people who rely on masks and vaccines stupid.

“I have no recollection of using the word stupidity,” Ladapo said.

Ladapo didn’t say if he regretted anything. He doubled down that the FDA should have waited for more data before revoking emergency use authorization of monoclonal antibody treatments.

But Democrats weren’t done asking about regret.

They asked if Ladapo regretted the way he treated State Sen. Tina Polsky when he refused to wear a mask in her office. She later revealed she had stage one breast cancer.

The incident made national news.

“I think it’s very important to respect people’s personal preferences and I think that’s a mutual thing,” Ladapo said.

Democrats had lots more questions but not enough power.

The committee recommended along partly lines for his confirmation.