With the two chambers of the Florida Legislature at odds with each other much of last year, Gov. Rick Scott offered his sixth State of the State address on Tuesday morning, looking to rally support behind his calls for $1 billion in tax cuts and for $250 million for Enterprise Florida to lure jobs to the Sunshine State.
“While, I am pleased to report to you today that the state of Florida is growing, I must confess that our work has just begun,” Scott told legislators. “Now, we face the mighty task of keeping job creation going strong. Now, we must set our sights even higher to make sure we do not fall back. Now, we must be dedicated to making Florida not second to Texas, but, first in the nation for job growth for years to come!
“Our goals are mighty, our challenge is clear,” Scott insisted. “We have two objectives. First, we must keep doing what’s worked the last five years to help Floridians get a job and live their dreams and keep cutting taxes! Second, we must diversify our economy and help small businesses grow by creating a new $250 million Florida Enterprise Fund, which has already been endorsed by mayors and city leaders all across our state.”
The governor started his address by highlighting what drove him to run for office back in 2010.
“Today marks my 262nd week in office as the governor of the great state of Florida, and I have had a lot of time to reflect over the past 5 years,” Scott said. “Judging by earthly standards, Ann and I have had a good bit of success in our lives. But as I reflect on that, I realize that our time on earth is fleeting, and I am unable to do anything of lasting significance without the grace of God. I know our work that is eternal is the time we spend investing in other people – our families, for sure. But, we also do work of lasting significance when we invest in the lives of our friends and our neighbors.
“I ran for governor to help my neighbors – all 20 million of them across our great state,” Scott continued. “There are some who believe that the very best way to help people is for government to give them money. And the truth is, for those in dire need, we need to provide a safety net. With your help, we have invested Florida taxpayer dollars to make a lasting difference in the lives of Florida families. For the first time ever, we completely funded the critical needs waiting list so persons with unique abilities can get the help they need. We made a record high investment in our education system so every child can have the opportunity to pursue their American dream. And just this year, we started a pilot program to better serve individuals who suffer with substance abuse and mental illness. These are two issues that have affected my family and many other families in our state."
Scott also showcased the state’s declining unemployment rate and returned to the campaign themes that helped him win his elections in 2010 and 2014: job creation and the importance of the private sector in shaping the economy.
“Government does not create prosperity, and it never has,” Scott said. “Top down mandates from big government are artificial and not sustainable.
“Real prosperity is created by the ingenuity and hard work of the American people,” Scott said. “The people of Florida have proven that when they are unfettered by the artificial constraints of government, they are the ones who create real and genuine prosperity for their families. Prosperity that is created naturally, not from the top down, but rather from the bottom up. Floridians want the opportunity to live their dreams.
“Therefore, I believe that the best way to help our weakest, our poorest, and our most disadvantaged neighbors live their dreams is to help them get a job,” Scott continued. “A job is the number one way to change any person’s life for the better and today, I am proud to report to you that the state of Florida is, in one word: growing! Thanks to the hard-working people in our state, over one million jobs have been created in just five years since I took office. One million jobs. Now that is something for Floridians to brag about! One million jobs.”
Insisting “our work has just begun," Scott urged the Legislature to back his tax cut package and his call to increase funding for Enterprise Florida.
Scott pointed to business leaders in the crowd and made the case for his proposals. Drawing on his own record in the private sector, Scott highlighted his call to cut taxes.
“It is hard work to start a business. It is risky. It is scary. I still remember it like it was yesterday,” Scott said. “That’s why I am asking for your support this legislative session for our first for jobs $1 billion tax cut package to cut costs for the manufacturers, the innovators and the entrepreneurs in our state who take the risks that make our economy grow and create good paying jobs.
“We know that the commercial lease tax unfairly targets small and large businesses across our state,” Scott said. “And, under the first for jobs tax cut package, we will begin the fight to do away with this unfair tax!”
Turning to his proposal to increase fund for Enterprise Florida, Scott insisted it was needed to help the Sunshine State compete with other states.
“Cutting taxes alone will not be enough to diversify our economy and allow Florida to become first for jobs,” Scott said. “That is why we are asking for your support to reform our business incentive process at Enterprise Florida to create the new Florida Enterprise Fund. The creation of this new $250 million dedicated trust fund will help us diversify Florida’s economy, support small business, and become the number one place in the world for families to get a good paying job.”
Scott noted several mayors--ranging from Republican Mayors Lenny Curry of Jacksonville and Ashton Hayward of Pensacola and Democratic Mayors Bob Buckhorn of Tampa and Buddy Dyer of Orlando--backed his proposal.
Turning from the economy, Scott waded into international issues, calling for more focus on the war on terror and insisting Islamic State (ISIS) terrorism remained a major threat. Scott is looking at running for the U.S. Senate in 2018 when he faces term limits.
“Many of you know that my favorite three topics are jobs, jobs, jobs,” Scott said. “But, I want to switch gears before I conclude today. In thinking about the eternal significance of our 20 million neighbors all across our state, I have been increasingly focused on their safety over the past few months.
“The hate-filled, cold-blooded events of recent months make it clear that we live in a fallen world, where terror sometimes reigns and evil seems unbridled,” Scott continued. “We’ve seen people at a concert ruthlessly murdered in Paris, health care workers massacred in San Bernardino and a Floridian, Steven Sotloff, beheaded by the hands of ISIS just months before.
“No one can dispute that ISIS is evil,” Scott said. “Our next president must make it their mission to immediately eliminate the threat of ISIS to the United States of America. As a proud US Navy veteran, I have found it even more important over the last few months to stop and honor those who serve to keep our nation safe from harm – at home and abroad.”
Scott ended his speech by returning to the economy and making his case one last time for his tax cut proposal and call for more funds for Enterprise Florida.
“We have completely turned our economy around and more families are thriving here today than five years ago,” Scot said. “Florida recently surpassed 20 million residents and we are adding more than 1,000 new residents per day – growing faster than California and New York! Florida has added more than one million jobs.
“But, we cannot let up,” Scott added. “Our $1 billion tax cut package and the creation of the Florida Enterprise Fund will be key elements to make Florida first for jobs in the nation for years to come.”
Scott then altered his “let’s get to work” campaign slogan to close his address.
“Let’s work together to diversify our economy and help our weakest, our poorest and our most disadvantaged get a job, even when times are tough across the nation,” Scott said. “Let’s work together to cut taxes to help families working hard to live their dream in Florida. Let’s work together to help every small business owner who is risking their life savings to succeed here in Florida. Let’s work together to support the next young entrepreneur...building the next great idea here in Florida. Let’s work together to make sure Florida continues to have a world-class education system.
“Let’s keep working together to make a lasting legacy in the lives of people all across our great state,” Scott concluded. “Let’s make Florida first for jobs together. God bless each of you and God bless the great state of Florida.”
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
