Job creation, with an emphasis on positions in high-tech fields, will remain Gov. Rick Scott's focus when he starts rolling out his agenda for his second year in office Wednesday in Orlando. On Tuesday, Scott offered a sneak preview of his goals for the 2012 legislative session.
The first part of it will be tied to, what you would expect, job creation and economic growth priorities, Scott said Tuesday, giving a general outline of the agenda he will present to legislators to members of Northeast Business Association at the Holiday Inn in northern Tallahassee.
We have a $69 billion budget. If those were business dollars, I would allocate those where I could get the best return, Scott said. So, my job is to take the $69 billion and allocate it the best way possible.
Following job creation, Scott said his agenda will include: further streamlining and eliminating state business regulations; reforming unemployment to require more training and job-seeking by those who receive state money; returning credibility to the state workforce boards; improving transportation, primarily in the ports and rails as the state seeks to capture business from the expansion of the Panama Canal; and making math and science educational priorities.
Scott noted that tax revenues will be lower than expected, further requiring the state to narrow focus on how the money is spent.
He singled out educational programs focused on producing graduates in anthropology and journalism, when better return on tuition for the state and individuals would be to direct schools and universities into high-tech professions.
Scott, who campaigned last year on creating 700,000 jobs in seven years, also joked that GOP presidential contender Herman Cain is pushing a 9-9-9 plan (capping federal income tax and corporate tax at 9 percent and imposing a 9 percent nationwide sales tax).
Well see how he does with his nines, I know its easier to remember seven, Scott said.
Scotts team released a Web video on Tuesday in which the governor asked Floridians to contact him with their thoughts. In the video, Scott offered a review of his first year in office and said the state's economy is starting to turn around.
Over the past year, Florida has made significant progress in getting our economy back on track, Scott said in the video. We balanced a budget without raising taxes. In fact, we gave businesses and families a tax cut. We began reviewing and eliminating hundreds of unnecessary rules and regulations that have hamstrung business owners in Florida. We scaled back the size of state government and created a business environment in Florida that has allowed us to create 87,200 private-sector jobs since January.
Scott also reviewed the measures he signed on education, including a new law on teacher performance pay. The governor highlighted the landmark education reforms that put students first, eliminated tenure, and laid out a path to pay effective teachers as professionals.
In the video, Scott promised to continue to make education, as well as the economy, one of the chief focuses of his 2012 agenda.
The proposals you will see reflect my three most important jobs as governor -- getting our residents back to work by growing quality jobs in the private sector; keeping the cost of living low for all Floridians; and building a world-class education system through continued improvements in our K-12 and higher education institutions," he said. "These ideas are based on the countless stories I have received from Floridians who have contacted my office ... and from the personal conversations Ive had while traveling the state over the past year.
Reach Jim Tuner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com. Kevin Derby can be reached at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com. They both can be reached at (850) 727-0859.
