Rick Scott, Lt. Gov. Carroll And Cabinet Sworn In

January 4, 2011

Rick Scott was sworn in Tuesday as Florida’s 45th governor and went to work talking about he plans to create 700,000 jobs in seven years.

Scott told those gathered at Florida’s historic Capital that he understand unemployment because his father was often laid off from work, and his mother often turned to ironing to feed is family.

“I have a very clear memory of their fear and uncertainty as they struggled to provide for five kids,” Scott said in prepared remarks. “So, for me, job creation is a mission. My personal memories fortify my commitment to this mission. There are millions of families across Florida whose future depends on the steps we take to create jobs.”

“America was built on the promise that anyone could succeed who was willing to work hard,” he said.

State agencies are prohibited from making new rules without the approval of a new governor’s office on regulations that will also go back over every state contract over $1 million, under an executive order signed by Scott Tuesday shortly after he took office.

Scott had promised to freeze regulations, saying he heard repeatedly on the campaign trail last year that rules, permitting requirements and bureaucracy were the biggest impediment to Florida employers.

In his inaugural speech on Tuesday, Scott again promised to eliminate red tape, calling regulation, along with taxation and litigation, the “axis of unemployment.”

Also Tuesday, Scott signed another executive order making good on a campaign promise, requiring
state agencies when making new hires to use the E-Verify system, a federal Internet based portal for checking work authorization and Homeland Security information.

That order also requires agencies to include in all state contracts a requirement that contractors and subcontractors also use E-Verify to check anyone employed during the contract term to work on state-related work. Scott also ran on a promise to try to tackle what he said is a lack of enforcement of federal immigration laws, and argued that state government can help by promising not to employ undocumented immigrants.

Scott’s creation of the state Office of Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform was his first official act as governor. He named former Charlie Crist budget staffer Jerry McDaniel to head up the office. In addition to reviewing any regulations before an agency can implement them, the office will also review all existing big contracts.

“I believe Floridians have a right to know where their money is being spent,” Scott said after signing the order.

Scott also signed an executive order re-establishing the Office of Open Government, which was created by Crist, and putting in a place the executive branch’s ethics code, which Scott said would be stronger than the current rules. Scott also ordered a “Special Counsel and Chief Ethics Officer” to review a recent grand jury report on corruption in politics and government to recommend how some of the grand jury’s recommendations might be put in place.

Finally, Scott signed a fourth executive order reaffirming the state’s prohibition on discrimination in hiring and contracting.

But the freeze on regulation was the boldest move, aimed at helping Scott encourage businesses to hire new workers – part of a promise to put 100,000 people a year back to work.

“While there are some regulations that are essential for health and safety, and others that are essential to the protection of our priceless environment, it’s past time to demand that every regulation be re-evaluated,” Scott had said in his inaugural speech shortly before signing the order. “We will conduct a top to bottom review of all state regulations and weed out unnecessary ones that hinder job creation.”

To Read Scott’s full prepared remarks, click here.

Also this morning, Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll was sworn in, as were Attorney General Pam Bondi, CFO Jeff Atwater, and Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.



Comments

One Response to “Rick Scott, Lt. Gov. Carroll And Cabinet Sworn In”

  1. Betty Williams on November 4th, 2012 8:55 pm

    Gov. Scott, YOU are a disgrace to the state of Florida with your voter suppersion laws and rules, they will not work.

    Prayer will prevail because our God is listening and HE sees. Stand in line everyone and PRAY and keep marching. Bring yourself a bottle or maybe a case of water or soda.

    Remember the election will go on!!

    God Bless.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News