Florida woman confronts governor Rick Scott in Starbucks over his slashing of social services

Rick Scott signed a bill last week to cut Medicaid and defund clinics like Planned Parenthood

Ms Jennings accused Mr Scott of preventing her from accessing healthcare (Stephen Bender / YouTube)

A woman who shouted at her Florida governor in a Starbucks for slashing social services said she had just planned to talk with him but the argument occurred after he “lied” to her.

Cara Jannings, 39, a former Lake Worth city commissioner, told MSNBC that she was “very upset" about a bill the governor had signed the previous week to cut Medicaid and to defund clinics like Planned Parenthood. She said the law disproportionately affects low-income women.

When Mr Scott walked in to get a coffee in Gainesville with his entourage, Ms Jennings said she thought it would be an “opportunity to talk to the governor about the bill he signed”.

She explained that the short video clip, captured by another customer, does not provide the whole context.

Mr Scott reportedly told Ms Jennings that he did not vote on bills. Ms Jennings said this statement was correct but arguably misleading as he did sign it into law and did have "executive authority".

He then reportedly told Ms Jennings where to get her healthcare - “as if I shouldn’t make that decision myself,” she said.

“You cut Medicaid, so I couldn't get Obamacare,” Ms Jennings then shouted at Mr Scott, as seen in the video. ”You're an a**hole! You don't care about working people.“

When a woman with Mr Scott tried to deescalate the situation, Ms Jennings dismissed her.

“You should be ashamed to show your face around here,” she said to her governor.

Mr Scott responded that he was responsible for creating a “million” jobs in Florida.

“A million jobs?” Ms Jennings replied. ”Great! Who here has a great job? Or is looking forward to finishing school? Do you really feel like you have a job coming up?"

“You strip women of access to public health care,” she continued, as the governor tried to leave the coffee chain. “Shame on you Rick Scott. We depend on those services. Rich people like you don't know what to do! When poorer people like us need services you cut them. Shame on you Rick Scott! You're an embarrassment to our state!”

Mr Scott then makes a swift exit without his coffee in hand.

When questioned about the video and people’s reaction to it, Ms Jennings replied: “I thought, oh, that's interesting that someone captured that interaction with the governor. I had no idea it would go viral.”

Ms Jennings said overall the reaction to the incident has been positive.

“I think that's because across the board people support Planned Parenthood and want women to have good access to healthcare,“ she said.