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Florida Governor Rick Scott discusses how he is going to buck the national employment trends in the Sunshine State.
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The next debate will be sponsored by Fox News in -- next week in the crucial battleground battleground state of Florida.
That -- been plagued by high unemployment.
Higher than the national average and a huge number of foreclosures but there's a new sheriff in town conservative who's taken and acts of the state budget.
Or actually a veto pen to cut 600 million bucks in the waste from Florida's budget.
-- -- Florida governor Rick Scott's governor thank you for us spending some time -- all the money tonight.
Tell us you know get it -- a tough battle to get -- -- get into the -- you promised a lot of changes for Florida gives a feel.
It's jobs jobs jobs -- committed to 7000 jobs over seven years.
And we're on track we've done we've gone from 12% unemployment it's in point seven this year.
-- we've dropped five out of seven months.
We generate over 7000 jobs and so every day I'm out there won't try and build -- -- or second Texas.
Until gonna impair the other day now he's run for president yes we're about Florida so help me get more jobs and -- and forget about Texas who have phones are gonna win that -- get back to the governor Perry just a minute but tough talk -- little bit about the pensions.
How did you cut 600 million bucks from the budget well here's what happened we -- we won't I walked in we're and we are just being -- -- between 3.4 and three point eight billion dollar budget deficit.
And then so we went through the budget and we just went line by line.
We consolidate agencies look to where the money was being spent we said we got to prioritize we know you know what you we don't have extra dollars.
So we we cuts now almost four million dollars.
In the Vito -- to over 600 million dollars Africa the budget back.
We've and we just go piece -- think what we're doing business into the exact same thing you look at how you spend money from.
If that they will point there have been correct me if I'm wrong there's two and a billion dollar project that was earmarked for the state of Florida that was done under Charlie Crist -- turn that down.
Well yeah.
-- under the single -- -- to -- a going to be 2.4 million dollars you have to build train.
From Tampa to Orlando back right and now.
But I want to be 2.4 because spend a billion probably more than that to build it -- lose money every year.
And if you shut it down you know giving back to 2.4 million dollars in into it no.
So I'm not raising taxes it was a federal project we're not doing it look what we've spend all -- -- a lot of money Washington.
Right so we I wanna make sure the money that comes back we spend on things we want we want we want it.
That supports.
We've got the Panama Canal expansion so I'm making sure -- ports are ready for the Panama Canal expansions we get the shipping in Florida not smother.
A place and we have a lot of ports fourteen ports in the state.
So I want the infrastructure for our -- -- our cargo real that's where west and the money.
Our governor to dissipate you mentioned Rick Perry a minute ago and for on the GOP candidates -- president.
What do you think of that man.
Well -- he's created jobs but we've got a lot of good candidates repairs a great -- I.
I compete with him every day for jobs and almost every big company -- that we're trying to get in Florida he's trying to get in Texas.
The latest one is -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange I think you're gonna move 2000 jobs to Florida or -- Texas I want to be Florida.
So he's going to -- building jobs here but you know and governor Romney he's got a great message but in the end.
The message is going to be.
Who has the right message for jobs.
This everything going on this country right now it's about jobs -- -- get jobs I'm glad you brought that Chicago Mercantile Exchange up I was a border I was on the board of directors of that company for years.
I'm also a member of of that company but through that what they're looking at.
-- looking to leave Illinois absolutely.
That's strong rumor -- -- -- -- because it's high tax state there and -- incomes of corporate taxes went up sixty something percent and fifteen million dollars this year for them.
Fifteen dollars.
Right so they're gonna move those jobs and so I hope of -- -- in Florida but that.
Taxes regulation.
Frivolous lawsuits that's what people are moving that's where -- we're going to be it's a very successful state like Texas has been successful because we focus on keeping taxes low.
The usually don't have regulations just kills jobs and no frivolous lawsuits.
You one of -- one of the candidates.
I want I want them have a real real primary I want them to fight over who's got the best jobs plan because that's who's gonna win the primary and that's who's gonna win the general Terry I've been -- it prior to -- about -- started it now.
Well we have we have a great straw poll next week we got the fox debate on -- something about that what it's -- we've got then we're gonna fox and if there's an eye on Saturday we have a were 3000 elegance.
So we're gonna all the candidates are on the balance.
And so we're gonna have a real test of who's in the lead right now in Florida.
I personally believe whoever -- that straw poll.
Will win the primary when it we do that and spring.
And Oakland will be the next president so it's a great test for who's who's in the lead governor or the one of things that you you wanted to talk about today was was the effect of free trade agreements on your state tell us a little about that you know if the president wants to grow jobs.
The fastest.
The easiest thing to do is today -- three free trade agreements to congress you've been passed so we can start expanding jobs though I will.
Reduce the cost living in this country.
In build jobs in this country we were European ridiculous -- to come.
The states are countries like Panama and Colombia and Brazil we can have an impact by expanding these free trade agreements and that's we ought to do you'll be a big opportunity for Florida.
Because as you know we it.
If you want to do business in Latin America you do business in Florida.
Under the analog media is making a lot of noise this week in the Republican in the house Republicans are looking ended -- possibly take a little bit -- that the and the strength of the dollar be a little bit of the influence of you know -- beyond business.
Away from them.
Do you have any problems with the -- -- and the state of Florida well I'm I'm scared that what they're doing in South Carolina with Boeing because if they do it there they'll do -- in Florida we're right to work state.
You can give member of a union you have to be a member of a union so that's what it that's what we chose the citizens of Florida.
The federal government should -- Thomas.
That some company can't move their plant to Florida because you know it's somehow.
Wrong for through you know the voice of the those unions so I'm scared to death what they're doing -- -- I hope they I hope we do the right thing congress.
The MR be exposed to make sure there's a level playing field not pick winners tonight governor the cumulative grade mister Obama is now wants a job performance assays of its performance on the economy well it's it's -- it's are a symbol great where the jobs.
It's all this election is all about jobs we've lost jobs you know the entire time he's been in office He -- -- turn the economy around he's made.
Business people in this country are scared to death was going on why do we have the second highest corporate -- in world why we have more and more and more regulation.
Why do we have trillion dollar deficits we think's gonna happen mean I can't I call on companies around the world and they say facing governor.
We've got the second highest corporate tax rates you get all this regulation.
Anne Archer tax is gonna have to go -- a lot with these deficits.
So what's wrong with my pitch to them it's very difficult.
But it governor Rick Scott we wanna present you with a follow the money -- award to Ronald Reagan -- only the third one that's been given out Scott Walker Wisconsin -- -- -- -- in in -- in Maine and value of the Florida governor thank you so very -- and I does it.
