Reaction poured in from across the state on Wednesday after Gov. Rick Scott unveiled part of his 2012 legislative agenda with a focus on slashing corporate taxes and focusing on professional development and technological training in schools and for unemployed workers.
The two leaders presiding over the Florida Legislature -- Senate President Mike Haridopolos, R-Merritt Island, and House Speaker Dean Cannon, R-Winter Park -- released statements on Wednesday afternoon in which they promised to work with the governor.
Last session, we laid out a set of priorities and promises aimed at providing predictability and stability to business owners and Floridians alike, said Haridopolos. With the help of Governor Scott and Speaker Cannon, we met those goals and kept those promises by passing landmark legislation and reforms including balancing our states budget with a $4 billion shortfall by cutting spending without raising a single tax or fee, by passing more than $300 million in tax relief, and by reforming our states costly entitlement programs.
This session, I, like Governor Scott, look forward to further moving our state toward economic recovery, and I commend the ambitious economic agenda that the governor outlined today, added Haridopolos. In the coming months and throughout the 2012 legislative session, we will work closely with the governor in order to implement measures that will continue to provide stability and predictability to our states business owners and entrepreneurs, as well as pursue an agenda that is focused on job creation and economic development.
Cannon also thought that Scotts proposal would help the economy.
I support Governor Scotts commitment to empowering private-sector job creation, said Cannon. I look forward to working alongside Governor Scott and my colleagues in the Florida Legislature during the upcoming session as we strive to meet our shared goal of reducing the tax burden on Florida families and businesses, eliminating burdensome regulations, and implementing thoughtful public policy reforms that will foster both a business climate ripe for private-sector job creation and a skilled work force ready to meet the needs of a global economy. I applaud and share the governors resolve to meet each of these objectives while maintaining a fiscally responsible budget.
With Republicans maintaining strong majorities in both chambers of the Legislature, Democrats will not be able to do much to stand in the way as long as the GOP is united. Democratic leaders in the Legislature remained on the sidelines on Wednesday, not releasing statements on Scotts proposals.
Scotts legislative plan, which he said was the first in a series that will continue to be unveiled before the 2012 session, also won the praise of leaders of the business community.
Governor Rick Scott is clearly laser focused on job creation and economic development, said David Hart, the executive vice president of the Florida Chamber of Commerce. At a time when our leaders in Washington are still fighting over a plan to move our nation forward, Florida is fortunate to have a governor committed to putting job creation, economic growth and education first.
Free enterprise has created more wealth and private-sector jobs than any other economic system in history, and the Florida Chamber shares Governor Scotts agenda to remove regulatory burdens, keep taxes low and put Floridians back to work, added Hart.
By unveiling his job creation and economic growth agenda at Metal Essence Inc., in Central Florida, a member of the Florida Chamber Small Business Council, Governor Scott sent a loud and clear message that Floridas manufacturing base will play a strong role in strengthening our states economic future. Removing barriers that stifle job growth will reinforce Floridas manufacturing base which ultimately plays a critical role in our efforts to double Florida-origin exports over the next five years. By putting long-term policy choices ahead of short-term political choices, Governor Scott is committed to putting Floridians first and leading Florida to better economic times.
Reach Kevin Derby at kderby@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859.
