The Florida House is once again stirring the pot over its plan to kill Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida.
On Thursday, the House released a new video in response to Gov. Rick Scott's statewide tour promoting the agencies, and the video hits home on a dramatic note.
House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O'Lakes, unveiled the video to lawmakers in Tallahassee Wednesday evening.
The three minute-long video details the “foolish spending” in a variety of areas, including the state’s $1 million contract with Miami rapper Pitbull to promote Florida tourism.
The video also details the Sanford Burnham saga, when a company lured to Florida with over $300 million in incentives decided to jump ship in the Sunshine State after losing millions of dollars in revenue.
The video’s somber music plays on as it details what the House sees as other abuses of taxpayer dollars.
“No more picking winners and losers,” the video reads. “No more taking taxpayers for granted. No more EFI.”
Scott has traveled around the state in a campaign to promote Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida, two agencies the governor says bring jobs and tourists to the Sunshine State. House lawmakers, however, believe the spending is excessive for programs they say are "abysmal failures."
Scott hasn't taken the threats lightly. He's called out legislators by name who have voted against the two state entities and insiders say he has threatened legislators' projects if they carry on and send Enterprise Florida and Co. to the slaughterhouse.
Earlier this week, Scott sent out a series of graphics highlighting the “positive impacts” of Enterprise Florida and Visit Florida. Days later, the House released the video.
The House clip ends with conservatives’ beloved Reagan talking about getting rid of “unnecessary subsidies” in the business arena.
“There are a number of subsidies to business and industry that I believe are unnecessary, not because the activities being subsidized aren't of value, but because the marketplace contains incentives enough to warrant continuing these activities without a government subsidy,” Reagan says.
Lawmakers spearheading the bill say it's high time to slash wasteful spending that doesn't benefit anyone in the process.
"The longer this debate goes on, the better. Right now..the people who are making the loudest noise are either giving or receiving [to the agencies,]" Rep. Paul Renner, R-Palm Coast, who sponsors legislation to kill EFI, told Sunshine State News. "When the average everyday Democrat or Republican understands what's going on with their hard-earned money, they're going to be offended."
The legislative session begins in March.
Reach reporter Allison Nielsen by email at allison@sunshinestatenews.com or follow her on Twitter: @AllisonNielsen.
READ MORE FROM SUNSHINE STATE NEWS
