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Gov. Rick Scott, (R-Fla.), on boosting job growth in the state and the state’s education reform and increased funding for education.
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The president Florida today to -- campaigning that is on class warfare.
That's state was one of the hardest hit by the recession between.
High unemployment and a foreclosure crisis now one of the most populated states in the union -- -- crucial to the economic health of the nation.
Joining me now.
Rick Scott governor welcome back the show it's great to have you here.
I wanna get to some of your initiatives in Florida healthy economy but first I want to talk about the president today in Boca Raton.
Talking about this Buffett tax.
Now I just wonder if as Republican.
You think taxing people with the highest in comes is the way to fund this government and get rid of our deficit.
Well we know it doesn't work.
As you know Ford is doing well because we don't have a personal income tax.
And if we want our country to do better we've got understand we're competing with the rest the world we can't have higher taxes higher income taxes.
For individuals or for businesses because we're competing for compete for talent in this country we're compete for companies to do business in this country.
We've got to reduce spending and we've got to reduce -- taxes that's we're doing in Florida.
I've reduce the business tax for two thirds the company's payment they don't pay the tax anymore.
The -- make it easier by equipment reduce regulation and guess what.
Our economy's getting better where three year low unemployment right we have company after company moving to Florida.
Let's talk a little bit about that job growth because.
-- your unemployment rate has gone from ten point 9% down to nine point 4% you've obviously recently put in some programs to assist that.
But what do you think is behind this drop in numbers is it just the general improvement that the economies economies -- there's something special about your state.
Well it's a little bit of everything first off you know people wanna live in Florida it's a beautiful state we've got the best -- -- get the best weather.
We've got great people we also don't have personal income tax we've got a little business tax them slowly -- now.
And the like I said a lot of companies are two thirds of companies and when I took office fifteen months ago our -- We've got expansion of the Panama Canal which is gonna help our seaports -- -- the expansion economies in central and South America.
You know it would and were you know were working hard to make sure people companies come here in prayers -- building jets here where it got ports ready for the Panama Canal expansion.
So got Time Warner expand you've got a lot of companies expanding is just a little bit of everything.
But I've got a very supportive house and senate and we're right in this the number one place the country do business.
Well and you know -- the last time we talked we were talking a little bit about whether.
You get says some of that companies in Chicago to come down to Florida will to be added -- -- and is there a chance to get debt.
This -- Chicago Mercantile Exchange.
Well you know with Illinois did is they gave a significant tax reduction to the Chicago Mercantile Exchange which.
Was a disappointment because I was hoping they will come to Florida.
But if the other side of it is every -- company in Illinois they didn't get that tax breaks.
There -- furious they're gonna come debt and -- -- there more room talking talking about come to floor because they say well why would one company get a reduction and not another company.
So that long term it's gonna help us more.
So you might get somebody else are able makes a lot -- that's actually what you know only how we're gonna see this is gonna we're gonna we're gonna be illogical winner Florida -- You know -- -- one year France Michelle -- today.
About education obviously she was a partner with you in Florida to improve education there.
Tell really you guys were able to do.
Well what we did do this week -- now gonna allow our principles that you pick the best teachers we got rid of teacher tenure.
Which now -- principles can pick the best teachers we start Merritt Hank.
This year I added a billion dollars -- with the help of our legislature to K through twelve education I think that's probably the biggest increase any states.
Has ever seen a billion dollars of increase.
We also made it easier for parents to make more choices.
We have more charter -- I think this last year we -- like ninety charter schools in the state I think we have about 540.
Because what we believe the end is we want to hold people accountable wanna give parents choice -- who were doing those things and guess what our education systems getting better.
Once study says we have been number one state for -- teachers in the country so we it's just doing what you do in business you measure you costly improve.
Well it's interesting you're giving a billion dollars to education.
Recently we were talking about new York and what's going on with the with spending there.
That's state -- -- but -- -- right now has the highest spending per pupil in the country at 181126.
Dollars and yet.
They're graduation rate thirty ninth in the country in math and reading their 31 in other words.
All this money doesn't necessarily guarantee performance.
Forty -- doing in Florida with visit with more spending to guarantee that it actually translates into performance.
Well you know clue as we know in business just throwing more money if something doesn't make it work you've got a measure.
You've got a you know change based on that management so in Florida you can come here you get on the Internet in meetings we -- all of our schools.
See you know where this is the best schools are in guess what the schools are not at the top they say what is that school -- top doing I'm good.
I'm that it emulate what they're doing and we share best practices.
So that's we're doing across the state and that's why our system is getting better every day every month.
You know I can't really go without talking to you about this trade on Martin George -- case.
And I know you've appointed a special prosecutor in that case a woman how Long Will it be before we have some kind of decision on that.
Well I hope soon I think all of us would hoping it would happen quickly but.
You know we -- justice to prevail in your heart goes out to the -- -- Martin found me -- -- with the parents.
And you none of us can imagine losing -- seventeen year old son to write a tragedy like this.
-- the same time.
We want justice for that -- -- and we went we want you know due process.
-- George -- so that's what's happening here all right I have the Florida department law enforcement ended investigation.
Helping.
Attorney general RC attorney Angela.
Or governor thanks for coming on the show tonight really appreciate your time it was great to CEO.
Not come on down to Florida I would definitely well are right we'll take up on that invitation Vegas --
