Rick Scott: 'We Need Leadership in Washington'

Gov. Rick Scott weighed in on Thursday on the fight over the debt ceiling and the federal shutdown. Scott contrasted the record in Washington with his own in Tallahassee.

Washingtons failure to reach a long-term agreement on the debt ceiling confirms our nations leaders have their heads in the sand about our economic future, Scott said. Americas unchecked debt, along with the increase in inflation that follows, will only put us deeper in the hole we have been trying to climb out of since the national economic downturn.

In Florida, we have paid down $3.5 billion in state debt over the last three years ending the decades-long practice of racking up state debt -- and paid back another $3.5 billion re-employment assistance federal loan, Scott added. We need leadership in Washington. We need negotiation and compromise to rein in spending, pay down debt, and keep the dollar strong for our economy to grow. Americans deserve nothing less.