Branding taxation, regulation and litigation as the "axis of unemployment," Gov. Rick Scott vowed Tuesday to get Floridians back to work.
Speaking to an enthusiastic, sun-splattered crowd at the Capitol on Inauguration Day, the Republican CEO called job creation his "absolute mission."
"More than a million Floridians got out of bed today facing another day of unemployment. I've been a child in a home like that," said Scott, who went on to become a millionaire health-care executive.
Contrasting his agenda with that of the Democratic administration in Washington, D.C., Scott declared, "Government has no resources of its own. It can only give to us what has been previously taken from us.
"A lean and limited government has a role to play, but prosperity comes only from the private sector."
Interrupted briefly by a heckler in the noontime crowd, the newly sworn-in governor vowed to "create the most favorable business climate in the world."
Targeting taxation, regulation and litigation for "choking off productive activity," Scott garnered cheers for his pledge to reduce business taxes and property taxes.
"This state raises enough to meet its needs," he said.
Scott said he would sign an executive order establishing an Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform to review regulations, "which grow like weeds."
The governor received the biggest round of applause for his call for tort reform.
"We will not allow excessive lawsuits and predatory lawyers in search of deep pockets to strangle job creation," he said.
With a nod to conservative Gov. Rick Perry of Texas, Scott vowed, "Whatever they do in Texas, we're going to do better."
Alternately emotional and nervous, Scott began his remarks by praising Gov. Charlie Crist, whom he said "could not have been more gracious during this transition period."
Scott also acknowledged that his tough agenda might not sit well with some. "It's bold -- more bold than some people might like," he admitted.
But the new governor made no apologies in pressing to reform public education and health care.
On education, he promised to deliver "more choices for parents to select the services they want and need."
He said, "The focus needs to be on individual student learning, not special interests."
Similarly, Scott assailed "top-down government health-care programs."
"We will not allow the federal government to trample on our right to make decisions on health care," the governor said. "We will refuse to allow increased government intrusion."
And closing on the state's rights theme, harking back to the strains of "Dixie" played before his swearing in, a confident and combative Scott concluded, "Whether the national government takes the right steps or not, we have what we need."
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Reach Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
