Rick Scott won Florida's governorship as an outsider who took on the state's political establishment. As he takes the oath of office Tuesday, the former health-care executive will have the opportunity to extend his attack to Washington, D.C.
A Sunshine State News survey of groups with various political interests in Florida finds that conservatives are hopeful and energized by Scott's business-minded agenda while liberals remain deeply skeptical and suspicious of his plans to cut public spending and promote state's rights.
Is Scott truly Mr. Outside? Or is he, as some of his critics charge, simply a new version of Mr. Inside beholden to the same old corporate interests? Here's a sampling of comments and prognostications about the new administration:
MIKE FRANC, HERITAGE FOUNDATION, vice president of government relations
"The ultimate outsider here is Washington. Disentangling state government from the federal role is the No. 1 challenge.
"Scott seems to be striking the right kind of chord. States are the place where you handle issues like education and transportation. The time is ripe for an innovative, reform-minded governor. And the best way to be business-minded is to unyoke the state from the federal government."
Franc suggests that Scott order an audit that compiles the federal costs of complying with EPA, Department of Labor, Department of Education and Department of Transportation rules.
"There are unlimited possibilities to redefine the (state-federal) relationship and free up billions of dollars for more productive uses."
MARK FERRULO, PROGRESS FLORIDA, executive director
"Were concerned about Governor Scotts seemingly unabashed agenda to transform the 'State of Florida' into 'Florida Inc.,' a wholly owned subsidiary of big developers, utilities and insurance companies. We hope were wrong, but looking at the folks on Governor Scotts transition team, his proposals to date and who is writing the checks for his $3 million inauguration, it doesnt appear so.
"Governor Scott raised and continues to raise massive amounts of cash from interests who for the most part dont care about Floridians quality of life, only how much profit they can generate. Many of the most powerful corporate interests in our state opposed Scott because of his more than dubious past and inexperience. Now, because they have no moral compass or grounding in whats overall best for Florida, only whats best for their own bottom lines, theyre throwing him a parade with tickertape in the form of $25,000 checks.
"Theres a reason Governor Scott is the least popular newly elected governor in the country.He used his own ill-gotten fortune to saturate the airwaves with his 'let's get to work' rhetoric but now that he's faced with actually finding solutions to the challenges facing Florida, more and more Floridians are realizing just how outside of the mainstream he really is."
PHIL RUSSO, ORLANDO TEA PARTY, founding member
"I am very optimistic. If Scott sticks to his guns he should be good and with the Legislature we are going to have next session we should be very pleased. I am sure there will be mistakes made, as there would be in any administration, but I have pretty high hopes.
"As to whether he has become an 'insider,' I don't buy it for a second because the party establishment gave him such a hard time during the campaign. I think he will use them when he needs to, but I am pretty sure he can't stand them."
KENNETH QUINNELL, FLORIDA PROGRESSIVE ALLIANCE
"Scott made a lot of big promises in the campaign -- promises that it would be unlikely for him to fulfill even if he didn't have plans to drastically reduce state revenues. He has already surrounded himself with Republican Party insiders and people like Michelle Rhee and Arthur Laffer whose ideas are based on false premises and whose policies have produced spectacular failures elsewhere.
"Florida could be in for a long four years if Scott doesn't do what he said he would do and try some actual new ideas."
DOUG GUETZLOE, FLORIDA TEA PARTY, spokesman
"Governor Scott may be a business 'insider,' but he is clearly a political 'outsider.' We in the Tea Party are optimistic that Scott will reduce government, lower taxes and support more individual freedom.
"We are also optimistic that Scott will join other new GOP governors in opposing the introduction of rail -- both high-speed and commuter. Obama-supported stimulus funding should be rejected on all fronts.
"The only area of concern is his potential stewardship of the hopelessly corrupt Republican Party of Florida. If RPOF does not become an agent of reform in the political process, the culture of corruption will continue unabated."
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Contact Kenric Ward at kward@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 801-5341.
