Republican gubernatorial nominee Rick Scott unveiled his plan on taxes and insurance Monday, calling for a 19 percent cut in the state’s property taxes. In so doing, he continued in a duel of heated exchanges with his Democratic rival, state CFO Alex Sink.

“Today, I want to talk about taxes and insurance -- two very important issues that must be addressed in order to put Floridians back to work and turn around our housing crisis,” said Scott at a town hall-style event in Miami.

Scott used the event to take a shot at Sink.

“Politicians in Tallahassee, like my opponent Alex Sink, had an opportunity over the last four years to reduce property taxes and insurance, but instead made the problem worse,” he said. “As an outsider who is not entrenched in the status quo or beholden to special interests, I have a plan that will lower property taxes for all homeowners in Florida who desperately need some tax relief, eliminate the business tax and address the insurance crisis.”

Scott focused on property taxes -- and called for a major tax cut.

“Florida is also in the top three states nationally in mortgage foreclosures and our economy has been crushed by housing price declines,” added Scott. “Forty-four percent of our homes are under water and property tax revenues have been growing faster than personal incomes. I will cut the state portion of property taxes by 19 percent for all homeowners in Florida helping to make their homes affordable again.”

Scott added that revenue would be made up by his jobs plan.

The candidate also called for reforming insurance in the Sunshine State.

“I will return citizens to the insurer of last resort, level the playing field so that solvent private insurers are allowed to compete with each other for business, not with the subsidized and financially unsound government-run insurance company,” said Scott. “Florida needs a thriving mitigation program that will incentivize homeowners to spend money to install features that harden their homes against hurricanes and will ultimately drive down cost. The fraud-based system that politics as usual gave us these past years was a failure.”

Scott also picked up a familiar Republican mantra and pledged to reform tort law in Florida.

“As governor, I will make the following tort reforms a priority: bad faith reform, product liability and crash-worthiness, disaster recovery – private sector, expert testimony reform, and medical-related reform,” pledged Scott.

He said he was bullish on his chances in the general election against Sink.

“I proved them wrong on Aug. 24 and we will again on Nov. 2, when voters have a real choice between the failed policies of the past or the new solutions we need to turn our Sunshine State around,” said Scott. “Our opportunities are too great, our future too bright for the old ways of government and the failed policies of the past. That’s why I invite you to join me in a completely different kind of campaign. Let’s shake up Tallahassee, turn our state around and get Florida growing again!”

The Sink team dismissed Scott’s plans as reflecting the agenda of big business and insurance companies.

"It simply boils down to whose side you're on: the consumer's or the insurance industry's -- and Rick Scott is clearly with the big companies," said Kyra Jennings, a spokeswoman for Sink. "In a nutshell, his plan would turn the insurance companies loose to raise rates as high as they want on Floridians.

"About the only place citizens are equal to big corporations is in front of a judge, but Scott's so-called reform plan would close the door to the courthouse for too many Floridians," added Jennings. "But it's to be expected from an unethical businessman whose company committed one of the largest frauds against taxpayers in history."

This was the lightest volley from the Sink campaign as it continued unleashing its own fire at Scott. The Sink camp released two television commercials during the weekend, claiming Scott was ignoring state affairs to focus on national issues and claiming that Sink is better positioned to help revitalize the state education system and the economy.

Sink’s team also hammered Scott for his record in the private sector, pointing to a piece run by the Miami Herald/St. Petersburg Times on Sunday focusing on his experiences in business.