Politics
Rick Scott: GOP Convention Speech to Focus on Florida as 'Model for the Country'
Around the State
Gov. Rick Scott | Credit: flaglerlive.com
But during an appearance on WCOA 1370-AM in Pensacola on Tuesday morning, Scott said -- as one would expect -- the topic will center on Florida’s economy since he took office in 2011.
“I haven’t decided exactly what I’m going to talk about, but typically what I talk about is how Florida is becoming the model for the country,” Scott said. “By reducing taxes, by reducing regulations, by saying we want business people to do more business in Florida, we’ve been able to dramatically reduce our unemployment and increase our employment.
“Our unemployment in the last 18 months has dropped faster than every state but one.
“We had, I think, about a drop of 40 percent in the number of people on unemployment because we’re running the state like you run a business: watch how you spend your money; and we want more business people to start their businesses here, expand their businesses here, and move their businesses here.”
The Republican National Committee on Monday released a list of some of the speakers for the convention, including Scott, with New Mexico Gov. Susana Martinez and former Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, both mentioned as long-shot potential running mates for Romney, along with South Carolina Gov. Nikki Haley, Arizona Sen. John McCain, Ohio Gov. John Kasich and former Arkansas governor and current Fort Walton Beach resident Mike Huckabee.
But, just announced Tuesday morning as speakers are former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, former Pennsylvania Sen. Rick Santorum, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., and Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin.
"My guess is (Scott) will talk about the success that we have in Florida; that, in fact, unemployment is on a three-year low; that we've created an environment that is pro-job creation and pro-education and we'd be that much more successful if we had a partner in Washington," Curry said.
Democrats have claimed to be elated by Scott’s selection among the speakers, pointing to his low approval ratings among Floridians and media reports that he was being kept off the presidential campaign trail.
“Scott’s 52 percent disapproval rating is handicapping the Republican operation in Florida and it’s hamstringing Mitt Romney,” David Bergstein, a spokesman for the Florida Democrats, told WCTV in Tallahassee.
“We are extremely happy to welcome Governor Scott to the campaign trail and look forward to hearing him explain how he and Mitt Romney share the same tea party vision,” said Bergstein.
Said Republican political consultant Joel Endelman, "Gov. Scott has a speaking coach, he has a whale of a message about the performance of his state, he's made the tough choices our president should have been making and I expect to see his approval ratings rise significantly in the not too distant future."
Reach Jim Turner at jturner@sunshinestatenews.com or at (772) 215-9889.
Comments (11)
So every state can send their transportation money back to Virginia for our rail projects. We can have lots and lots of jobs while your states wither away. Tell you what you may think it's so very cool to turn money down - but that was the stupidest thing any Governor ever did - both sides in the State of Florida worked on that project for many years - now no one will want to bring business to Florida because their employees will sit in traffic forever. Never mind the fact it helps the earth. But right wingers don't care about being green or clean air etc.
But thanks States that give away dollars set aside for high rail projects - the State of VA actually has a Republican Governor who somewhat understands how important it is to keep improving infrastructure - and we love the jobs. My neighbors house overpriced sold in a weekend.
We are working because YOU lost out because YOU elected an IDIOT for a Governor! People actually have jobs in Virginia. But we need more - so keep sending them.
We all thought Alex Sink had won and low and behold they found enough "unreported votes" to give this Asinine Crook the Governorship.
As we found out in 2000. Not every vote counts when someone can mess with the vote.
A great many of us have "topped out" and are on Medicare. We are the first real explosion of "Baby boomers". Next year the real explosion is more noticeable. I remember the class right behind me adding a whole new class and even with that those classes were busting at the seams.
More politics of the "Big Lie", at least by someone.
Let's start looking at educational funding since Scott took over, the demonization of teachers, the attacking of professional fields such as anthropology, the adding of an unnecessary 12th university to satisfy the desires of a bully politician's empire building, the elimination of major programs and campuses at other universities due to funding going to that 12th university, and the shifting of state funds tht should have gone to education to subsidize and pay for out of state businesses to come to Florida and not pay taxes.
Yes, Scott will have a lot to talk about in Tampa, but if he's honest, it won't be a rosy picture.
Instead, expect more Scott politics of the "Big Lie".
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