Politics
Rick Scott: To Create Jobs, Florida Needs a 'Federal Partner' in the White House
Around the State
Forget any talk of Florida Gov. Rick Scott torpedoing his message of progress being made in Florida’s economy for the sake of any ongoing national campaign seeking to paint a bleaker picture.
Instead, Scott said Tuesday that Florida’s resurgence should be seen as a national model, one that a more receptive White House occupant could emulate in the not-too-distant future.
When he addresses the Republican National Convention on Monday, Scott will use the prime-time appearance to talk about the need for a federal partner.
We need “Somebody who is going to do what we’ve done in Florida,” Scott told reporters on Tuesday while outside the LeRoy Collins Library in Tallahassee.
“Reduce taxes. Reduce litigation. Reduce regulations. Streamline the permitting process.
“As you all know, we’ve had the biggest drop in unemployment of any state in the country. Just think what will happen if we have a federal partner who is going to do the same thing in D.C. that we’re doing here in Florida.”
Earlier Tuesday, Gary Swoope, Scott’s business development guru, stressed changes made the past year-and-a-half under Scott aimed at making Florida a global economic leader, as he told members of the Economic Club of Florida that the Sunshine State is “moving in the right direction.”
Brought in from Mississippi -- where he helped oversee the state’s economic recovery following Hurricane Katrina -- to serve as secretary of commerce and president of Enterprise Florida, Swoope highlighted the efforts of the state that have been partially responsible for Florida’s 2-point drop in unemployment.
But he also emphasized a need for Florida to be more aggressive in compe
ting against its northern neighbors for business.
Asked afterward about his role in the messages pushed by Scott that Florida is making progress, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign that things could be better, Swoope said a “federal partner” is desired in job creation.
“I think of the companies that I worked with; they’re looking for a Washington that is supportive of them being able to make a profit, which means they can employ people,” Swoope said. “In my job, I’m staying focused on Florida and what we need to do here.”
Swoope will be in Tampa on Aug. 29 for the Republican National Convention, attending a forum on job creation.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
Rick Scott addresses the media on the front steps of the LeRoy Collins Library in Tallahassee | Photo: Jim Turner
When he addresses the Republican National Convention on Monday, Scott will use the prime-time appearance to talk about the need for a federal partner.
We need “Somebody who is going to do what we’ve done in Florida,” Scott told reporters on Tuesday while outside the LeRoy Collins Library in Tallahassee.
“Reduce taxes. Reduce litigation. Reduce regulations. Streamline the permitting process.
“As you all know, we’ve had the biggest drop in unemployment of any state in the country. Just think what will happen if we have a federal partner who is going to do the same thing in D.C. that we’re doing here in Florida.”
Earlier Tuesday, Gary Swoope, Scott’s business development guru, stressed changes made the past year-and-a-half under Scott aimed at making Florida a global economic leader, as he told members of the Economic Club of Florida that the Sunshine State is “moving in the right direction.”
Brought in from Mississippi -- where he helped oversee the state’s economic recovery following Hurricane Katrina -- to serve as secretary of commerce and president of Enterprise Florida, Swoope highlighted the efforts of the state that have been partially responsible for Florida’s 2-point drop in unemployment.
But he also emphasized a need for Florida to be more aggressive in compe
Gary Swoope at The Economic Club of Florida
Asked afterward about his role in the messages pushed by Scott that Florida is making progress, and Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney’s campaign that things could be better, Swoope said a “federal partner” is desired in job creation.
“I think of the companies that I worked with; they’re looking for a Washington that is supportive of them being able to make a profit, which means they can employ people,” Swoope said. “In my job, I’m staying focused on Florida and what we need to do here.”
Swoope will be in Tampa on Aug. 29 for the Republican National Convention, attending a forum on job creation.
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
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