Rick Scott's State of the State address at 2013's first joint legislative session Tuesday was titled It's Working, referring to his economic objectives for Florida. The governor repeated the "It's Working" refrain at least eight times during the course of his address. The expression recalled Scott's 2010 campaign theme, Let's Get to Work.
But isit working? We asked that very question of several lawmakers. We also asked for their take on Scott's proposals that the Legislature a) eliminate the sales tax on manufacturing equipment, b) award public school teachers a $2,500 raise, and c) expand Medicaid eligibility in accordance with the optional provisions of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (Obamacare).
Here's what they told Sunshine State News.
IS IT WORKING?
Rep. Dan Raulerson, R-Plant City
Yes it is; I think the stats are showing that. I think [Scott's] done a great job in the time he's been governor. I think he was the right man for the right time. It is working. Obviously we have more work to do, and I do disagree with him on Medicaid expansion but I think he's got the right idea, I think education is a priority and we need to look to the future from a technology standpoint, develop our technological expertise in the state and make this state second to none in terms of job creation, job growth, and economic opportunity.
Rep. Katie Edwards, D-Plantation
We're halfway there. We have a lot of problems ahead of us. ...
Ive always been a fan of repealing the [manufacturing] sales tax so long as it demonstrates job creation. I think we should have periodic reviews to make sure it works, but as long as we know it's going to help create jobs and get money back for the economy, I'm all for it.
[SSN: What about Medicaid expansion?]
We need to do it.
Rep. Randolph Bracy, D-Orlando
I'll say this: I'm glad to see that [Scott] supports teachers and giving them a raise. I'm glad to see that he supports Medicaid expansion and I would hope the House would fall in line, and so does the Senate. If not, it will leave a lot of folks still uninsured. ...
"I could possibly support [elimination of the manufacturing sales tax], but I have to take a look at it and see. I want to promote business but I have some concerns: if you repeal the sales tax for manufacturing, what does that do for our other industries? Is that fair?
Sen. Rob Bradley, R-Orange Park
It is working. I think the governor is rightfully proud of his work over the last two years in conjunction with the work of the Legislature. ... We're not where we need to be, but we're heading in the right direction when it comes to job creation and growing the economy. The thing that resonated with me the most in his speech was when he compared Florida with California, Illinois, and New York. Florida is a beacon of freedom and it has decided to go in a different direction than some of our other states in the Union and I think that's going to pay dividends in the long run. Governor Scott is setting the vision and were going to be doing a lot to help him to achieve a more robust economy. ...
I'm waiting to see what the Senate select committee comes back with, and to review their rationale, before I make a decision [on Medicaid expansion]. I think that's going to be one of the hot topics of this session, that's for sure. ...
[SSN: Is Scott's new position on Medicaid expansion a principled one, or is it just so much political posturing?]
I take the governor at his word. It is a difficult decision, there are pros and cons and it's not going to be an easy decision for any of us. I don't think he's playing politics because, quite frankly, if he was playing politics I'm not sure he would have made the decision that he did. I think he's doing what he thinks is right and I respect it.
Former Rep. J.C. Planas, R-Miami (2002-2010)
I think as far as his laissez-faire policies are working, we're obviously in better shape than other states, like California and New York. Had the housing crash not hit, our recovery would have been even better because of the things that we did. The truth is, I think the policies of [former Gov.] Jeb Bush were really what set us on the path to be able to recover financially in so many ways. Had it not been for the fact that Jeb Bush really set the tone on this, a lot of the good things that are coming out of Florida would not be possible. ...
I think the tone that [House Speaker] Will Weatherford has set has made it a better atmosphere than perhaps it has been the last the four years. ... I think the climate is always set by the speaker and when you have someone like Will Weatherford who is the epitome of leadership, trust, and transparency I think that sets the precedent. I think that's perhaps where the feeling of bipartisanship is coming from: Will has so much trust with so many people because his positions really are sincere and people realize the sincerity.
Rep. Larry Lee, D-Port St. Lucie
There are certain aspects that are working, but we've got a long way to go. I was glad to see that [Scott] supports the expansion of Medicaid and I was very disappointed that this is being done along party lines. We need to figure out a way to work together. ...
I think there are certain bright points: unemployment is down. But I think we need to create more jobs. I'm a big proponent of education and increasing teacher pay, but there are other workers in government who also deserve increased pay. I think that what [Scott proposes the teachers receive] is long overdue, but $2,500 still doesn't put us where we need to be in terms of pay because we're so far down. ...
I'm also not all for merit pay. Being a form teacher myself I think that every teacher should be looked at differently. And what I mean by that is: you can't expect me, if I'm teaching some kids from a disadvantaged neighborhood, who may not have all of the proper resources available to them, [to be evaluated the same as] a teacher that's coming out of a very affluent neighborhood. ...
If you do [eliminate the sales tax on manufacturing], that will mean less [government] revenue. Where else are you going to make that up from? I'm not so sold on that.
Rep. Mike Fasano, R-New Port Richey
You'd have to ask the people back home. The people in my district have great concerns that for many of them for probably the majority of them it's not working. Many of our residents back home are seeing their insurance premiums literally going through the roof, where they're losing their homes. It disappointed me today that ... the governor never talked about an issue so very important to millions of homeowners in this state, and that's property insurance. He didnt even mention it. ...
The people in my district are still struggling to find jobs. We hear about these falling unemployment rates, but I'm a big believer that those are false numbers, that the numbers don't reflect the many people who are no longer looking for a job. ...
Anytime we can reduce taxes that are going to help create jobs, I'm all for that. ...
Nobodys opposed to giving more money to education and teachers ... but we should not be dictating to our schools and our school-boards how much that pay raise should be. Lets take the dollars, let's give them to our school-boards, and let them and the collective bargaining units decide how those raises should be implemented, who should get them, and what amount should be given out. ...
[SSN: Is Scott being principled or political on Medicaid expansion?]
It's probably a combination of both. It really hit home for me when he talked about his mom. My mom was 89 years old when she passed away; I know the struggles of many people in dealing with health care and medical problems. But whether [Scott is being] political right now, I well, I'm not going to say I don't care, but ... if it's going to help to provide health care to people who have no access to health care in the state of Florida, then I'm all for it.
Rep. Dwight Dudley, D-St. Petersburg
I was struck by the intensity of the speaker's remarks against Medicaid expansion, and that concerned me a lot. ...
I'm struck by the fact that [Obamacare] was passed on March 23, 2010, and three years later, the vote was along party lines. I'm not really interested in ideology or politics so much as I am good policy. And to not accept $26 billion from the fed government ... you can be as suspicious as you want of the federal government, you can wear a tinfoil hat if you want to, but if you're perfectly fine with taking federal highway money and you're relying on that faithfully, and not complaining or not talking about the risks or the dangers associated with all the money we get in federal highway monies ... if the federal governmemt is going to welch on the deal, why are we making other provisions with regard to our roads and our highways? ...
At least come up with another idea! Are we completely devoid of the ability to propose other alternatives? How is this responsible governance, to sit by the sidelines and throw rocks and criticize and then refuse $26 billion out of hand? It's outrageous. ...
The governor is doing all the things he believes are useful to him getting re-elected. ...
The speaker, on the other hand, I believe truly believes what he's saying. I believe he's a man of his word, and it's worrying to me that he is saying the things he's saying. I'm just hopeful that he, being the man he is, a principled guy, he's going to consider something else. It's dark and scary right now, we're groping around in the dark here.
Reach Eric Giunta at egiunta@sunshinestatenews.com or at (954) 235-9116.
