Statements by Haridopolos, Rich on Florida Unemployment Numbers

Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and Senate Minority Leader Nan Rich, D-Weston, released the following statements on the unemployment numbers released Friday for Florida.

Haridopolos:

"Today we learned that the unemployment rate in Florida declined in the month of October to 10.3 percent, an improvement from Septembers 10.6 percent unemployment rate. I am encouraged that we are continuing to see Floridas unemployment rate steadily decline as we continue to add private-sector jobs to our states economy.

It is our mission in the Florida Senate to continue to foster a business-friendly environment by holding the line on taxes, and offering predictability and stability to our states business owners and entrepreneurs. And while we still have a long way to go, the continued improvement in Floridas job market is evidence that we are moving Florida in the right direction.

Rich:

Unfortunately, a drop of 0.3 percent in Floridas unemployment rate is little consolation to the 1 million Floridians still out of work. We still remain well above the national average.

In the meantime, the Republican leadership needs to remember that their policies have led to the loss of good teachers and other professionals critical to Floridas quality of life. The rejection of our tax dollars we paid to Washington, and the insistence on protecting tax loopholes for wealthy corporations continues to back the state into an untenable corner. The result has been and remains predictable: Floridas seniors, children, working class and middle class families are the ones suffering as a result.

Before the celebrations begin, I would strongly urge the governor and his supporters to remember that the construction industry still continues to bleed in Florida, and more than 360,000 Floridians have seen their livelihoods disappear. A number of counties in our state are still reeling from an unemployment rate of more than 13 percent. And the outlook remains particularly grim when the majority of any new jobs that have been added are low wage with few, if any, benefits.

Floridians are hungry for jobs that pave the way for a better future for them and their families. We still have a long way to go.