Scott Pitches $500 Million In Tax Cuts, GOP Embraces Proposal

September 1, 2013

Gov. Rick Scott will ask the Legislature to slice taxes and fees by $500 million, according to excerpts of his prepared remarks Friday to a gathering of conservative activists in Orlando.

Scott said that an influx of new revenue for the state was a call for more tax cuts, even though the governor didn’t specify which taxes and fees he wanted to reduce.

“This year, we are committed to returning even more money to the hard-working Florida families who earn it,” Scott said. “I look forward to working with our friends in the Florida Legislature to make these tax cuts a reality.”

Scott spoke at the “Defending the American Dream Summit” held in Orlando by Americans for Prosperity, a group often associated with the tea party.

House Speaker Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel, joined other Republicans in hailing the proposal. “When you announce a tax cut, you can count on a hearty cheer from the Florida House of Representatives,” Weatherford said. “We are supportive of the governor’s bold announcement today, and look forward to working with him next session.”

But House Minority Leader Perry Thurston, D-Fort Lauderdale, was lukewarm on the idea.

“I am sure that many Floridians may cautiously welcome the relief from Republican-proposed tax hikes. … But it is imperative that before promising tax cuts we have assurances our state can adequately fund education, health care, public safety and other priorities of working families and small businesses.”

During the Orlando speech, Scott also took some swipes at former Gov. Charlie Crist, a onetime Republican who appears to be laying the groundwork to run as a Democrat against Scott next year. Scott slammed Crist for taking emergency federal funding to help balance the state budget in the wake of the economic recession.

“My predecessor had made a name for himself by hugging President Obama’s non-stop spending — and even hugging the president,” Scott said in a reference to an embrace between Crist and President Barack Obama during an event pushing the program. “When asked about taking all the stimulus, he said he ‘needed the money.’ … D.C.’s spending addiction had spread to Florida.”

by The News Service of Florida

Comments

3 Responses to “Scott Pitches $500 Million In Tax Cuts, GOP Embraces Proposal”

  1. Rufus Lowgun on September 2nd, 2013 5:53 pm

    Maybe we’d better take look at how such a tax cut will leave our finances. Borrow-and-Spend Republicans are notorious for busting the budget with tax cuts and then leaving Democrats to take the blame for cleaning up the fiscal mess. I’ve got to pay my bills every month, so I want to see how what is the equivalent of me taking a pay cut is going to affect how the bills get paid. I want to see what taxes or fees are going to be cut, and how that is going to affect the states budget before any cuts are made. That’s what’s called fiscal responsibility.

  2. ME on September 2nd, 2013 7:30 am

    Just like the President has done BOTH Times. Anything to get a vote,including payoffs.

  3. Robert S. on September 1st, 2013 7:09 am

    Either one of these characters, Rick Scott or Charlie Crist will embrace, hug, and promise anything to get a vote.
    I wonder which “taxes and fees” generated $500,000,000 dollars in revenue?
    Scott cut the vehicle license tag fees (tax) which was a sizable part of how public schools are funded…then turns around to say how much he supports education.
    Cut taxes over there then get upset because the roads in your neighborhood are not well maintained. This is a double-edged sword, cut taxes here, cut services there.
    Crist is planning to be a democrat? As Gomer Pyle used to say, “Surprise, Surprise, Surprise.
    Please Dear Lord, help us who live in Florida and save us from the politicians.

Written by William Reynolds · Filed Under News