Rick Scott is ready to go to bat again for Enterprise Florida (EFI) even as a fiscal conservative group readies for a rematch.
Despite Republicans controlling both chambers, the Florida Legislature rejected Scott’s push for $250 million annually for EFI to lure businesses to the Sunshine State earlier this year.
At a EFI board meeting on Thursday, Scott said he would lower that figures, announcing he intended to ask for $85 million for the 2017-2018 fiscal year.
“I ran on a mission to turn Florida’s economy around, and while we have added over one million jobs in just five and a half years, I will keep fighting for jobs until my very last day as governor,” Scott said. “I know firsthand that a job is the single most important thing to a family because it changed my family’s life growing up when my parents had jobs. I will fight for every resource available to bring jobs to Florida and that is why I will be including $85 million for economic incentives in my recommended budget for the sole purpose to bring more jobs to Florida. Whether it is for a small or big business, incentives are only given to companies if promised jobs are created. This ensures that taxpayer money is responsibly protected throughout the entire incentive process and provides the best return on investment for our state. Florida has to compete with 49 other states and global markets across the world for jobs and I will fight to make sure we have every available tool to remain competitive.
“Early next year, I will be hosting an economic summit with economic development leaders and job creators from across the state to discuss how we can bring even more opportunities to Florida,” Scott concluded. “Florida undoubtedly has a lot to offer to outcompete other states for jobs wins. Our business climate, low taxes, education system, workforce, transportation infrastructure and even the weather are all variables that companies look at when considering locations to move or expand. But, we cannot lose sight that economic incentives are an important part of this toolkit.”
But Scott’s proposal could generate resistance, especially as incoming House Speaker Richard Corcoran has been sharply critical of EFI.
The Florida chapter of fiscal conservative group Americans for Prosperity (AFP) was active in defeating Scott’s proposal earlier this year and, on Thursday, showed no signs of backing down.
“Here we go again,” said Chris Hudson, AFP’s director in Florida, on Thursday. “Enterprise Florida has proven to be a failure at all levels. They were supposed to be a partnership between taxpayers and the private sector, but the program resulted in funds coming almost exclusively from taxpayer dollars. They promised to help create jobs, but have failed by coming up short of their job creation goals by nearly half and have ultimately yielded a negative return on investment for taxpayers. EFI was supposed to serve small businesses, but the truth is that they have mostly served well connected insiders to prop up private companies on the backs of Florida taxpayers. The legislators that stood against this corporate welfare slush fund this year did the right thing by not expanding this failed program. Lawmakers should be finding ways to cut spending, not take away valuable resources that would better serve Florida families.”
