The myth busters in the governors office have added a couple of additional talking points to efforts to dispel tales that have circulated about Gov. Rick Scott.
While the list remains a work in progress, the original five myths have seen some tweaking since they were first reported in August as an effort by Chief of Staff Steve MacNamara to help bolster Floridians' knowledge and perception of the governor.
From Aug. 5 to Nov. 10, Quinnipiac University polls have shown Scotts approval rating has hovered around 35 percent to 36 percent, while his disapproval mark went from 52 percent to 51 percent.
No deadline was given for when the final list would be set or how exactly the list would be used.
Among the recent staff tweaks, Scott now intends to meet with the editorial boards of every daily newspaper in the state, where initially it was stated he would sit down with just 12.
Meanwhile, two additional items bring the list of myths to Scotts favorite number: seven.
Each myth, before with repudiation labeled under truth, now features bullet-pointed counterarguments.
The new myths being debunked are Rick Scott doesnt care about state workers and Rick Scott is blindly cutting the budget.
Meanwhile, three titles have been altered.
Rick Scott is operating his plane at the state taxpayers expense is now Rick Scott is receiving a salary, special health-care benefits and operating his plane, all at the taxpayers expense.
Rick Scott doesnt talk to the media has been updated to Rick Scott doesnt talk to the media or read newspapers.
And Rick Scott doesnt believe in open government was extended to Rick Scott doesnt believe in open government and doesnt even have an email.
Belowis the new myth list, still in draft form, followed by the earlier draft.
SEVEN MYTHS ABOUT FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT DISPELLED
Myth: Rick Scott has always been wealthy.
Truth:
- Gov. Scott started school in public housing in Urbane, Ill.
- Gov. Scott began working at a young age because his family struggled financially.
- He did every job from delivering newspapers and cleaning phone booths, to selling groceries and working on a ship in the United States Navy.
- These jobs taught him the value of working hard and the impact of every penny.
- His background is what inspires him every day to turn the state around.
Myth: Rick Scott hasnt done anything to create jobs.
Truth:
- We are on the way to reaching 700,000 jobs in seven years.
- This is because of Gov. Scotts tax cuts, actions to streamline state government and initial steps to return state government to its core functions and grow private-sector jobs.
- Floridas unemployment rate went from 12 percent to10.6 percent since Gov. Scott took office.
- Florida has gained 110,300 private-sector jobs since January.
- 17,900 public-sector jobs have been eliminated since January.
- Thats a net total of 92,400 jobs added since January.
Myth: Rick Scott is receiving a salary, special health-care benefits and operating his plane, all at the taxpayers expense.
Truth:
- Gov. Scott receives 1 cent per month simply for administrative purposes and pays for parking, even though he does not own a car.
- He is enrolled in the same health-care plan as all state employees.
- He sold the state airplanes and covers the costs of his personal aircraft at no cost to taxpayers.
- No salary and no state plane results in taxpayer savings of more than $2.5 million per year.
Myth: Rick Scott doesnt talk to the media or read newspapers
Truth:
- Gov. Scott talks to media daily and at least one hour is reserved for interviews.
- Gov. Scott has done several hundred radio interviews since he came into office and has participated in 10 editorial board meetings.
- The governor reads statewide, national and international news daily.He also looks at the front pages of Floridas 21 largest daily newspapers each morning.
Myth: Rick Scott doesnt believe in open government and doesnt even have an email.
Truth:
- Gov. Scott believes the public has a right to know what state government is doing with their hard-earned tax dollars.
- In the first nine months of the Scott administration the governors office had 1,075 public records requests, of which 1,024 (95 percent) have been fulfilled.
- During the entire four years of the previous administration, only 899 public records requests were fulfilled by the governors Office of Open Government.
- Gov. Scott has put up significant information on the website Floridahasarighttoknow.com about pension, salaries, etc.
- To date, the governor has received more than 250,000 emails, compared to approximately 160,000 Gov. Crist received in his first year.
Myth: Rick Scott doesnt care about state workers.
Truth:
- Gov. Scott is impressed with the work ethic and dedication of state employees.
- He wants all state employees to have a reliable retirement plan.
- This is why one of his top priorities is making sure the pension is fully funded.
- Currently, the pension is 87 percent funded and dropping.
- Gov. Scott believes 100 percent is what the retirees should be able to count on.
- Thats why Gov. Scott had state employees begin paying into their retirement plan.
Myth: Rick Scott is blindly cutting the budget.
Truth:
- Gov. Scott is constitutionally required to balance the state budget every year.
- He has reduced the size, scope and cost of government while preserving critical safety nets.
- He campaigned on reducing government spending and using accountability budgeting.
- He kept his promise by balancing the budget without tax increases.
- Also used outcome-based budgeting to create efficiency throughout government.
- Although the choices were tough, he did what was necessary to create private-sector jobs and balance the budget without increasing taxes.
FIVE MYTHS ABOUT FLORIDA GOVERNOR RICK SCOTT DISPELLED
Myth: Rick Scott has always been wealthy.
Truth: The son of a truck driver and a JCPenny clerk, Gov. Rick Scott started school in public housing in Kansas City, Mo. Because his family always struggled financially, Gov. Scott began working at a young age doing everything from delivering newspapers and cleaning phone booths to selling groceries and working on a ship in the United States Navy. These jobs taught him the value of working hard for every dollar and the impact every penny has on a familys ability to put food on the table.
Myth: Rick Scott hasnt done anything to create jobs
Truth: Since Gov. Scott took office in January, Floridas unemployment rate went down for five straight months and held steady in June. Florida is well on its way to reaching 700,000 jobs in seven years because of Gov. Scott passing tax cuts, streamlining state government and beginning the steps necessary to return state government to its core functions and ignite private-sector job growth.
Myth: Rick Scott is operating his plane at the state taxpayers expense.
Truth: Gov. Scott covers all costs associated with the operation of his jet out of his own pocket -- at no cost to the state. This includes fuel, operation, maintenance and storage costs. It is also important to note that Gov. Scott does not accept a salary from the state, with the exception of one penny each month to keep him on the state payroll.
Myth: Rick Scott doesnt talk to the media
Truth: Gov. Scott talks to the media every day, and at minimum one hour of his schedule is set aside for interviews. He often jokes that he speaks to the media more than he speaks to his wife, Ann. Gov. Scott has done more than 130 radio interviews since March and has already begun participating in editorial board meetings. Gov. Scott will meet with all 12 Florida editorial boards.
Myth: Rick Scott doesnt believe in open government
Truth: Gov. Scott is a proponent of open government laws and believes the public has a right to know what state government is doing with their hard-earned tax dollars. Since Jan. 4, 2011, the governors office has received 813 public records requests, of which 97 percent have been completed and 3 percent are in progress. This is compared to just 960 public records requests the governors office received during the entire four years of Gov. Crists term.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (850) 727-0859 or (772) 215-9889.
