As he readies to be sworn in for a second term on Tuesday, Gov. Rick Scott is promising to continue the fight for conservative fiscal policy, insisting it has helped bring Floridas economy back.
Scotts team released excepts from the governors second inaugural address on Monday. In the speech, Scott will focus on fiscal conservatism, calling for lower taxes and smaller government, highlighting how they help the economy. Scott also will promise to hit other states, looking to recruit jobs and new residents.
While we are focused on growing jobs in Florida, we must realize that positions our state as a fighter in a great movement against the silent growth of government, Scott will say. Many states, like Florida, are fighting to limit the growth of government and grow opportunity instead.
Scott will also stress the importance of keeping taxes low and how Floridas tax climate can help the Sunshine State grow.
Over the last 20 years, millions of people have escaped from states with climbing tax rates to move to states with lower taxes. Why does this matter? Scott plans to ask. For starters, estimates say individuals who escaped these high-tax states have taken with them around $2 trillion in adjusted gross income.
They are voting with their feet, Scott will continue, contrasting big government, liberal Northern states. They are leaving states like New York, which lost $71 billion in adjusted gross income from 1992 to 2011. And they are leaving Illinois, which lost $31 billion in adjusted gross income over that same period. The people that left New York and Illinois had one thing in common their No. 1 destination was Florida."
Scott will also point to the recent news that Florida bumped New York as the third most populous state in the nation as proof that fiscal conservatism is helping the Sunshine State flourish.
In Florida we are proving that government can do better without getting bigger, Scott plans to say.
Scott also will make a pitch to residents of other states, urging them to consider moving to Florida.
I have a message today to the people of New York, Illinois, California, Pennsylvania and others: move to Florida! Scott plans to say. We want you to keep more of the money you make because we understand its your money. We want your businesses to grow and succeed. We want to compete globally and win. Over the next four years, I will be traveling to your states personally to recruit you here.
Scott will also make a plea for keeping higher education costs in line. During his first term, Scott called for lower tuition costs, including urging state colleges to offer some degrees for under $10,000. In his speech, Scott will promise to expand affordable degrees while also keeping graduate school tuition where it is now.
Keeping our costs low doesnt end with tax cuts it also includes lowering the cost of higher education opportunities as well, Scott is scheduled to say. That is why we have already worked with the Legislature to stop tuition increases in our undergraduate programs. And, to make higher education even more affordable in the next four years, we will increase the number of $10,000 bachelor degrees offered at our state colleges; while also holding the line on graduate school tuition.
Scott is also planning to keep his focus on job growth.
In addition to cutting taxes, we have an ambitious agenda to keep Florida working and become the global leader for job creation by the year 2020, Scott is scheduled to say.
Scott will attend a prayer breakfast in the morning and his inaugural is getting some attention from Republicans at the national level, including two possible presidential candidates -- outgoing Gov. Rick Perry, R-Texas, a longtime ally of Scott, and Gov. Chris Christie, R-N.J. During last years campaign, Christie, the chairman of the Republican Governors Association (RGA), was very active on the campaign trail for Scott.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or follow him on Twitter: @KevinDerbySSN
