Rick Scott Repeats Pledge of 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years

Gov. Rick Scott reasserted Friday his campaign pledge to create 700,000 jobs in seven years. In a release posted on the governors website Friday, Scott responded to critics who have questioned if he had changed his seven-step economic campaign promise.

Several Florida newspapers have recently pointed out that on the campaign trail, Scott had said the jobs would be in addition to normal growth.

Read the entire release below:

Statement from Governor Rick Scott: 700,000 jobs in Seven Years: Setting the Record Straight.

Let me begin by saying that regardless of economic predictions that shift with the wind, my promise to create 700,000 jobs over seven years has not and will not change.

During my campaign for governor last year, I unveiled a plan to fix Floridas economy and turn the state around. It was called the 7-7-7 plan: Seven Steps to 700,000 Jobs in Seven Years. As I said during my campaign, this plan will create 700,000 jobs over seven years no matter what the economy might otherwise gain or lose.

No one, not even economists, can predict the future. What can be verified is actual job-creation data. From July to December 2010, before I was in office, Floridas job-creation numbers show that the state had a net loss of 20,100 jobs. For 2.5 years before that, the state lost 878,100 jobs and the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 3.5 to 12 percent.

Since then, we have begun implementing the 7-7-7 plan and creating an environment where jobs can grow. Sure enough, Florida has gained 87,200 private-sector jobs so far this year and the unemployment rate has started going down, bucking the trend at the national level.

Instead of focusing on hypotheticals, Im focused on what I know will be accomplished through my 7-7-7 plan the creation of 700,000 jobs over seven years regardless of what the economy might otherwise gain or lose. Floridians will judge me not on what an economist in Tallahassee predicts, but on actual job growth each month. Those are the numbers I will be held accountable for and thats what I remain focused on.