Rick Scott to cut property taxes by 19% next year. Says it will be "fun. It's going to be exciting."

[madfloridian]

He's like a kid in a toy shop all excited at his new powers. Even Republicans are gunshy about these huge property tax cuts. It would be devastating to schools, and to communities trying to find funds to pay for fire and police services. But that is okay with him, as he wants to privatize all of it.

Scott Not Shying From Pledge to Slash Taxes


John Pemberton | The Florida Times-Union
Governor elect Rick Scott speaks to the crowd at the Jacksonville Landing on Wednesday Dec. 29, 2010 in Jacksonville, Fla. The stop was part of his statewide tour leading to his inauguration in Tallahassee, Fla.

Gov.-elect Rick Scott, who will be sworn in Tuesday, has no plans to back off his campaign pledge to cut property taxes by 19 percent in the coming year, even though the state's financial picture has worsened in the months since he first made that promise.

..."Scott, the millionaire businessman from Naples, also vowed during an interview this past week that he will try to fulfill all of his campaign promises, from selling the state plane to donating his salary of more than $130,000 per year to charity. Scott even hinted that he plans to spend two terms as governor, unlike departing Gov. Charlie Crist, who mounted an unsuccessful campaign for a U.S. Senate seat after one term.

"You think the next eight years will be boring?" Scott joked at one point. "You will have plenty to write about."

Arrogant words.

Scott, who must present his budget recommendations by Feb. 4, said he was "not scaling back" those tax-cutting plans. Scott also seems to be undeterred about dealing with Florida's budget challenges, and is also intent on pushing ahead with own proposals to change public education, insurance and state government.

"It's not daunting. It's going to be fun. It's going to be exciting," Scott said.

Yep, a little kid impressed with his new powers.

He is ready to just hand out public taxpayer money to parents to send their kids wherever.

Rick Scott's universal voucher proposal would hurt schools

It is clearer than ever that Republicans intend to mount a frontal assault next year on Florida's public schools. Legislators show no interest in building consensus on efforts to abolish teacher tenure and create a merit pay system. Gov.-elect Rick Scott also pledges to slash school property taxes even as declining property values and tax revenues have forced deep spending cuts in education. But those misguided approaches are small potatoes compared with their pursuit of a radical plan to give all students tuition vouchers.

In Scott's fuzzy vision, every parent would be given public education money to spend on "whatever education system they believe in, whether it's this public school or that public school or this private school or that private school. …'' It is not an original idea. Nobel Prize-winning economist Milton Friedman began pitching tuition vouchers for everyone more than 50 years ago. And Scott is working with the Foundation for Florida's Future that was created by former Gov. Jeb Bush — the self-anointed education czar who brought Florida tuition vouchers, school letter grades based on standardized tests and other "reforms'' that overreached and underdelivered.

Now some Republicans are referring to universal vouchers as education savings accounts.

Gee, that sounds a lot like Universal Savings Accounts for Social Security, or Health Savings Accounts.

I wonder how many who voted for him knew what he really was about. Not only does he vow to cut property taxes, he is going to make even deeper cuts in corporate taxes.

Florida is facing "a budget gap of more than $3.5 billion in the coming year. Scott vowed to cut school property taxes while maintaining school funding at its current levels by slashing spending in other parts of state government, including the state's pension plan. Scott also promised to eliminate the state's corporate taxes over a seven-year period."

Sometimes I just feel numb inside after talking to people here. Last week someone I used to teach with asked me what I thought about Rick Scott. I told them to look up Rick Scott and pensions. They voted for him, had no idea his views on education and public employee pensions.

All I can say is wait for the next hurricane or another emerging disaster...and there won't be enough workers in the public sector to respond.

[neverforget]

Good luck Floridians. Sounds like you'll need it.

[Liberal_in_LA]

9. lol. yep.

[Angry Dragon]

1. Perhaps if you are lucky global warming will

raise the water level enough to wash him out to sea, never to be heard from again

[lark]

30. Hmm, a major hurricane after he's gutted the infrastructure

could be just what we need to get rid of him. His government won't be able to respond, people will be pissed and will kick him to the curb - yeah, we need a hurricane in his 2nd year or 3rd year. Hopefully one that will come in at Boca Raton or Ft. Lauderdale and really make the rich mad enough to defund him.

I don't say this lightly, hurricanes are very scary things and not to be taken lightly. Scott is every scarier, though and he will damage our children and grandchildren's futures.

[RockaFowler]

2. I can't believe a teacher voted for him

Were they not listening to him??

I got calls at the station stating they were sick of Alex Sink's negative ads. It was Rick Scott's negative ads. I remember all of the ads and more negative came from Scott than Sink. People are so stupid in this state. This December was cold, but watch out the next 4 years are going to be downright awful for us!!!!

[bluestate10]

52. I'm sure plenty did.

As well as plenty of cops, firefighters, EMTs. They will now feel the sting of their vote, unfortunately members of the mentioned groups that saw reality and did not vote for Scott will be hurt too, that of all is the saddest outcome.

[elehhhhna]

3. He's going to "donate" his salary to his own personal frikkin charity:

AND he's been investing in privatising education:

Rick Scott releases tax returns — and he’s still rich

Scott reported a 2009 income of $7,929,902 for him and his wife, Annette. The couple paid $1,003,503 in taxes, while also contributing $1.4 million to charities, including a mahogany gold armoire donated to the Liberty Youth Ranch in Naples that he valued at $806.

His biggest donation – totaling more than $1 million – was listed as going to CPR Education. The charitable foundation he and his wife formed received $263,430, while other contributions of $28,000 went to the Oakwood School and $20,500 to Naples Community Church.
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:3xX6afBONk8J:blogs.orlandosentinel.com/news_politics/2010/10/rick-scott-releases-tax-returns-and-hes-still-rich.html+rick+scott+florida+charity+foundation&cd=1&hl=en&ct=clnk&gl=us

More on "CPR' -- his tax exepmt teabagginng PAC: But his biggest charitable deduction for a tax break in 2009 totaled more than $1 million and went to a group called Conservatives for Patients Rights, his tax-exempt political committee that fought Obama's federal health care overhaul.

Known as CPR, the committee helped spark the conservative tea party movement. Its nationwide TV ads raised Scott's profile, and its public relations machine formed the backbone of his campaign staff.

[madfloridian]

10. I would like to know more about that CPR Education that is mentioned.

I did a search, but all I can find is literally teaching CPR. I had the impression it was an education group??

Curious.

[subterranean]

13. It's part of Conservatives for Patients' Rights, the PAC group

Scott set up to fight health care reform.

The only mention I could find was a reference to the "CPR Education Fund" on the group's web site (http://www.cprights.org/support.php). It has nothing to do with education, and appears to exist solely to collect donations for the PAC.

[madfloridian]

15. Thanks, how weird. Appreciate the link.

I would it is a rather misleading name....it did sound like an education group.

Thanks.

[elehhhhna]

43. of course it did! it's all about miseducating the public.

[r54w32]

61. Look Here for C.P.R.

It is another disingenuous republican crock'O crap...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rick_Scott

This guy is a total creep.How in the hell did he ever get elected?!?He goes back a long way,clear back to the Texas Rangers with his good buddy G.W.Bush.

[Hannah Bell]

35. that's not a charity. his charitable contibutions are negligible.

[Vickers]

4. I've yet to meet a single person who voted for him.

Admittedly, I tend to hang out with liberals, but even the folks I work with (a good percentage of them are repukes) say they didn't vote for him.

:shrug:

[tsuki]

5. I only know two teachers who voted Democratic in the last Florida

election. If you are going to vote against your own best interest, what am I supposed to do? This county went over 66% for Gov. Voldomort. So did Bay, Okaloosa, Santa Rosa, Escambia and Holmes Counties.

[Indianademocrat91]

18. I can see it now!

[dixiegrrrrl]

24. Actually, it's " You Know Who"....

Don't say the name aloud!!!!!

With Dolores Umbridge as Sec. of Education.

[seafan]

6. It's all going to explode very soon now. I will venture a prediction.

Rick Scott will not finish his 4-year stint as Governor.


Again, the question.... why do those who nurse the most hatred of a sound government insist on running (ruining) it?

Rhetorical only. We've seen this horror movie before.


It's going to be brutal, madfloridian. And quickly.


Thank you for your dedication to the truth.

[madfloridian]

8. "why do those who nurse the most hatred of a sound government insist on running (ruining) it?"

Good question.

Yes, it is going to be brutal here.

[WinkyDink]

12. GRAFT and POWER. Get with the game-plan!

[TomClash]

21. Because they want the money and power

Ruining Government is half the fun.

Paying off your constituency is the rest.

[muntrv]

7. What Rick? You mean defrauding Medicare wasn't fun enough?

[flvegan]

11. This would save me a bunch of money.

And you know what, no thanks. I don't have any kids, and don't plan to (probably wouldn't stay in Florida if I did, to be honest) but what he's talking about for "education reform" (on top of his other initiatives/promises) is like seeing the perfect storm appearing in front of you.

[lib2DaBone]

14. Yes.. it's going to be exciting.. as his friends at BOA take over more Florida homes....

He wans to privitize all the prisons in Florida.. this will make "Cool Hand Luke" look like a cartoon.

Prick Scott is a Junior Fascist... a product of the Bush Crime Famiy.

[lark]

31. He's not a junior fascist

He's a full monty, all the way there, died in the wool fascist.

[bertman]

16. To anyone who voted for this man in hopes of reduced taxes: Be careful

what you wish for.

Rec.

[Hannah Bell]

17. vouchers. for everyone. including people currently sending their kids to private schools.

they can use them to buy computers or whatever.

meanwhile, teachers & public employees to go on welfare.

they're going to bankrupt the state & make massive cuts.

i hate to be negative, but floridians voted for these mafiosa & they will reap what they sowed.

[lafayettelonewolf]

19. Sure Mr. "I wanna steal from the federal government" Scott,

While we're at it, let's take the life savings from every senior in the State of Florida and give it to the top 1%. Hmph! What a stupid friggin' piece of eschrewmento! Honestly, I feel real bad for the people of Florida. They definately got the wool pulled over their eyes.

[BaltimoreDemocrat]

20. People get the government they deserve

When police and fire protection is scaled back, when roads get worse than they are, when trash isn't picked up, when crime increases because of cuts to social programs, when public schools collapse and there aren't enough private and parochial schools to educate everyone (and most people couldn't afford the tuition, even with the vouchers)then voters might realize they should have made informed choices instead of listening to tea bag rhetoric.
As for why people who hate government get elected and prove government "doesn't work...;" that is what they want to do. It is the plan for the right wing to get control of governments, cut taxes, reduce social spending, and prove governments incompetence so the rich can get richer on the backs of the poor and working class, reduce "dependence" on government to ease the transition to privatization, and generally rape the people for the benefit of a few wealthy individuals.
One method of proving government's incompetence: appointing unqualified political hacks to important posts. Do you think "Hekkofa job Brownie" was a mistake?
Read The Wrecking Crew by Thomas Frank. It's all in that book like some kind of check list for the right...

[Jefferson23]

22. He promised to eliminate the state's corporate taxes over a

seven year period. I wonder how much he'll cut in 4 years, and promises more for his campaign re-election to finish the job I guess, lol.

Seriously, this man is so irresponsible/insane he may shoot himself enough in the foot that his own party takes him down.

[eppur_se_muova]

23. How long before FL's bond rating is slashed? That should be "exciting" enough. nt

[prolesunited]

25. Went through this with Mitch Daniels

Lost MY job as a result and watched already hard-hit communities devastated by the results. And when they cut property taxes, they play a cute little game of lowering it more for corporations and businesses while increasing it for individual property owners. If you are in older housing stock, watch out. Many seniors and those on the edge had to sell or lose their houses.

[L0oniX]

26. They reduced property taxes 2 years ago. I hate paying them but wow another 19%?

[hapkidogal]

27. We can kiss our state good bye

Along with rights for women and ethnic folks. We are screwed. Thanks to all those morons who voted for him. Not only that if we have a hurricane we'll be back to the heck of a job Brownies days of W and NOLA.

[DirkGently]

28. This guy makes Jeb Bush look like the Tooth Fairy. Nice going, neighbors.

[Yavin4]

29. I Feel Sorry for Florida's Children

Most of them are doomed to a life of low wage jobs because some folks wanted to save $50 on property taxes.

[lark]

32. My daughter is in her final year at college to be a teacher

It's looking like she will move to France and teach there because the future for teacher in FL looks awfully grim.

I HATE Rick Scott, actually wishing someone would do something to help him go away, but only the good die young - not out and out thieves like him that make a living preying on the least able to fight back, like stealing from Medicare patients.

[JCMach1]

33. Exactly... pisses me off to watch my home state go down the shit hole

:(

[smuglysmiling]

34. I keep fighting the urge..

to move back to California...this state needs people to fight goons like this...but the willful ignorance of people here to vote against their best interests make me think it's time to go elsewhere...SIGH...

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

36. The fact that Scott is a crook is not lost on us here at DU. The question is why Florida

voters didn't know about his past before voting for him. Was this a failure of the Florida media? Was it a failure of people not doing their research before voting for him? Was it the Democrats' fault for not getting the word out? Poor campaign from Alex Sink who should have beaten this crook to begin with? Voter turnout?

(Of course these are rhetorical questions...)

[anobserver2]

53. Yes, it is the Democrats' fault

I found this thread quite interesting. I resided in the FL
"hometown" of Rick Scott for about
15 years; in late 2009 I moved to Boston (I am a native NYer).
During the time I lived in FL my dad died of cancer and only
now is my mom finally selling the house. 

I noticed a lot of problems with Democrats, and instead of me
listing them, I will just tell you what happened when I
rejoined the Democrats, in 2008, and tried to get help from
them on a number of issues. 

Prior to rejoining the Democrats, I had been an independent,
but then I realized how corrupt the Republicans were in that
state (Read Jeb Bush), and it took me a long time to see it,
but I finally did. 

Here is how Democrats responded to my suggestions: 

1) I would ask the Democrats at their Dem Women Meetings:
Where are the lawyers? (Because I needed a lawyer and I needed
a Dem lawyer.) Is there any Dem lawyer in this town? Where are
they? Can you invite them to a meeting? Can you do something
to let them know there are Dems in this town with complaints
that need to be filed in court? (Against Republicans for
corruption). 

The Dem Women yawned. They are a bunch of old women who like
to have coffee and lunch and cake and chit chat. They are
nice, don't get me wrong. But they don't understand the
connection between (a) someone coming to their meetings week
after week and asking for legal help from Dems, and (b)
winning elections.

They think there is no connection.

They don't understand that lawsuits are public records, that
generate press, that interest people, that could expose
Republican corruption, and could swing an election. 

It would decades to explain this to those women. They do not
have a clue. 

2) The male Democrats are the same way. They are old and not
saavy. 

3) The most interesting group of voters in the state are the
independents and Tea Party people, because believe it or not,
those voters can be swayed, if the information is so negative
against a Republican. They will stay home or vote Dem. It has
happened before. 

4) However, Dems are spineless there. The Dem lawyers only
come out the day after an election to complain that a recount
is needed. 

Here is how Dems could have won Florida and many seats in
Florida: 

1) Recognize that according the report issued by a panel on
corruption that was put together by Gov Crist, Florida is the
Number 1 state in the nation for public corruption (beating NY
and CA and everywhere else). 

2) Get Dem lawyers out there in front of people, so that Dem
voters can contact. Start new law firms in the public
interest, like Ralph Nader did, throughout Florida, offering
to help people with their problems. This is how you uncover
Republican corruption. Get those complaints into court. 

3) Help people who are suffering from Republic corruption. 

The Dems do not do this in Florida. They sit around, and eat
cake, and "hope" they win the next election. They
have lost everything in Florida. 

I will bet the vast majority of voters in that state never put
together that "Alex" Sink is a woman, and while some
may have wanted to vote for "the woman" they could
not find a woman's name on the ballot, so they just voted for
Scott. 

I also think that the Democrats in Florida simply do not
understand that they can attach themselves to issues of
tremendous interest to voters of all parties, like Sunshine
Law violations. There is so much unlawful secrecy in Florida;
I have knowledge of a dozen violations if there is a Dem
lawyer who wants to email or contact me and file a lawsuit for
me in Florida. 

But Dem lawyers don't do that. They just yawn. 

Now, that state is literally going to h*ll. I am glad I am out
of there. 

It is too bad. FL could have gone Dem. But Dems in positions
of power just do not understand the connection between
scandal, Republican corruptions, lawsuits, lawyers, and
winning elections. 

They just do not want to get involved when a normal, average
citizen stumbles upon evidence of Republic corruption. It's
like they are afraid. 

Well, now they lost it all. 

[Lorien]

57. Answer: Democrats stayed home on election day. They saw no hope or change

after having elected a Democratic House, Senate and President, so they didn't bother heading to the polls. THIS Floridian voted, but many more did not. Repugs, on the other hand, were motivated by a). racism, and b). the big money ad campaigns. There are more dems than repugs registered here, but the Dems already in office need to DO SOMETHING to inspire them to get out and vote. The old tactic of "vote for us because we don't suck as badly as the other guy does" just doesn't cut it any more.

[Liberal_Stalwart71]

37. The fact that Scott is a crook is not lost on us here at DU.

The question is why Florida voters didn't know about his past before voting for him. Was this a failure of the Florida media? Was it a failure of people not doing their research before voting for him? Was it the Democrats' fault for not getting the word out? Poor campaign from Alex Sink who should have beaten this crook to begin with? Voter turnout?

(Of course these are rhetorical questions...)

[Javaman]

38. 2012: gov scott declares state bankruptcy.

what a jackass.

[kurtzapril4]

40. I was in FL a couple weeks ago

To take care of my dad after he had a mild heart attack. Dad got the St. Petersburg times, so I read it every day, it seems to be a liberal-ish paper. Which surprised me because Dad was a Fox News watching conservative. Anyway, the impression I got from the newspaper is that Scott is a giant douche. I believe they had a poll, and his popularity #'s were somewhere in the '30's, even before he was sworn in.

He wants to make the corp. tax disappear...but make people who collect un-employment do community service work if they don't find jobs in 12 weeks.

I feel really bad for FL, this is not going to turn out well. Dad passed away on the 22nd of Dec., on his 95th birthday...and I'm so glad that after his memorial service in Feb., I never have to set foot in FL again.

I just cannot understand WHY the republics are so good at getting people to vote against their own self interest.

[Javaman]

44. Sorry about the passing of your dad...

The set up for Florida's final demise was via jeb putting together the logs. scott will now set it on fire.

My mom passed away in July of last year, I'm thankful she will not have to witness what is going to happen to this country.

[kurtzapril4]

63. Thanks, Javaman. n/t

[Yavin4]

39. Dear Gov. Scott, If You Think That Education Is Expensive...

try prisons because that's where people go when they are not economically self sufficient.

[NYC_DEM]

41. There are many issues at play here

I discuss this often with friends that are politically active, I believe if a candidate looses the fault lies squarely with them, NOT the voters. IF a party runs a candidate that has a poor message, poor skill communicating it, or for whatever reason does not resonate with the voter or address their specific concerns then it is pointless to later blame the opponent for winning or the voter for being "dumb" it is up to the candidate/party to make a convincing case if they can’t/wont then they deserve to loose imho. Obviously a lot of Ind voters in FL elected this guy because they believed it was in their best interest everyone votes in their own self interest.

For a retired couple living on fixed income a $1000 a year cut in property taxes is appealing.

For a couple that works a part time job or two (in addition to their M-F jobs) in order to pay for private school because the local school stinks, vouchers are appealing. Particularly if they own their home and are pissed off about paying property taxes for education AND paying for private school precisely because they understand the value of a good education for their children.

These proposals/public opinions do not get formed in a vacuum.

City, and State governments are not known to be good stewards of taxpayer money, therefore I think people will almost always assume they can make do with less if they just stopped wasting it.

I think too often as Dems we don't look at the underlying reasons why these public perceptions (sometimes correctly) exist and address them with our candidates We should state explicitly how we will deal with government waste, most of us in our personal budgets have had to cut back over the last few years why not cut back city - state spending for a time?

State explicitly that if a school is not performing well we will deal with it NOW not give it years to see if maybe it can get better. By not tackling these issues head on we cede the playing field to the other side. If we do that then we deserve to loose.

Just my thoughts as I found this thread interesting.

NYC

[Yavin4]

46. Your Post Is Illustrative of How Myopic We've Become As A Democracy

It's all about give me another $10 or another $25 in tax relief now instead of preparing the next generation's workforce for the future. Or, it's about I send my kids to private schools, so I don't care about your kids.


The problem with this mindset is that one way or another you pay for it. You pay for having a sizeable portion of the population completely illiterate and unable to become self sufficient. Paying to imprison a significant portion of your population is going to cost you a hell of a lot more than it is to educate them.

So, okay. Let's keep electing the politicians that will give you back that $10 or $25 dollars a year today, and then tomorrow, they will take it all back and then some. Or, they will have to empty the jails.

It's your choice.

[NYC_DEM]

47. Actually

I am not for a narrow view based on immediate gratification at any cost rather am distressed that by not addressing issues and not understanding that they are important to different constituencies we leave ourselves open for candidates like Rick Scott to be elected.

Close to 20% reduction in property taxes for a fixed income couple is not chump change far far more than $20.00 - generally speaking there is a perception of massive waste in government, there is a significant portion of the middle/lower class that is ill served by public education as it is today - we can either address these issues with progressive solutions or let the middle vote for republicans allowing them to implement their conservative solutions.

Dismantling government is not the answer, dismantling public education is not the answer - refusing to address the issues in a way credible to independent voters is not the answer either.

NY

[onethatcares]

54. well since I live here and pay property taxes I have to say this

if you have the save our homes cap, and the homestead exemption and by chance your house is valued at 200K, your property tax bill is 600 mol a year. If you own a doublewide mobile home that you payed 23K for and it's in a resident owned park, you pay some ungodly low rate because it's not taxed at value but as "mobile home" I think it's a tangible tax thing. It might amount to 100.00 a year for the registration decal. That's almost what I pay for a 3/4 ton truck each year.

[bluestate10]

56. I would wait to see how Scott structures the property tax reduction.

You may rue the change. Most people that live in a trailer park don't have much money, so $100 to them is serious money to come up with suddenly. I would say that even if you get $120 off your property taxes, that amount and more will be taken out of you somewhere along the line during the year. For example, Florida is projected to run a 3.5 billion dollar deficit in 2011, on top of the debt that it already has. When Scott's proposals are enacted, Florida's bond rating will surely take a hit. A 2-3% increase in interest paid on debt will add ~ 100-115 million per year in interest on the 3.5 billion of new debt that Florida will incur in 2011. Add the interest on existing debt, which is surely more than 3.5 billion, Floridians end up looking at gaps upward of 500 million per year that has to come from somewhere. Now cut out people that do not pay taxes due to their status, the remaining Floridians have to cough up the 500 million, you could easily be talking $30-$50 for that added burden alone. On top of that add higher sales taxes and gasoline taxes (easy to hide them), Floridians will be lucky beyond belief to have enough of that $120 saved in property taxes to buy a sliver of toilet paper to wipe their asses.

[bluestate10]

55. Actually.

Both of you make some decent arguments and some that are not sound. The fact is, a 19% reduction in property taxes in a state that has no income tax is going to have to be made up somewhere, probably in sales taxes or taxes on tourists. Scott is shifting the burden to lower income Floridians that spend more of their pay and will be hit by higher sales taxes and visitors to the state, who may well find it cheaper to go elsewhere. I project massive confusion and damage to Florida due to Scott's tax proposal.

But on the flip side, public officials and the people that they hire to lead departments have an obligation to insure that public workers put in a good days work and that public money is spent wisely. The overwhelming percentage of public workers more than earn their pay, but all that is needed in state with a budget in the tens of billions is a small percentage of graft or outright waste to create opportunity for people like Scott.

Having worked in private business, I see how inefficient private business can be, even highly successful companies are not immune. But unlike government, businesses can use some tricky explanation for their problems and attempt to raise prices, squeeze employees or suppliers, governments can't do those things because the public expect a certain amount of services. Anyone that think that privatizing government functions is cheaper need only look at states that have private prison systems, or a high percentage of private hospitals, none of those states perform well against their national peers and all are beggar states, ie, states that survive by getting tax dollars from other states.

[taught_me_patience]

65. Old people don't give a shit about education

pretty much only care about their pocketbook and health.

[nadinbrzezinski]

42. California is a basket case, but Florida will make us look

Good...if you don't believe in government though it is consistent.

[bluestate10]

58. If you got taxes back that your state are giving other states.

Your budget would be in deep black. Californians give away 53% of what they pay in federal taxes, more if FICA and Medicare are thrown in. California's gross production makes the state's economy the seventh or eight largest in the world, translate a 10-15% reduction in taxes that California gives away to other states leaves California with tens of billions in it's coffers per year. California's estimated 28 billion dollar debt could be wiped out in a matter of one to two years if your state kept 15% of the tax money that it gives away.

[KamaAina]

45. A friend's daughter and her husband are homeschooling in FL

and I use the term loosely. Apparently the kids just do whatever they want and watch TV all day. And there's nothing Grandma can do about it, 'cause Mom and Dad incoroprated themselves as a private school* and, of course, there's no oversight in FL. :eyes:

[Hugabear]

48. does he realize that he doesnt actually have all that power?

Sure, the repukes will likely give him much of what he wants, but it still has to go through the legislature first.

[Vinca]

49. The new Florida state motto: We don't need no stinkin' schools.

This guy is really going to do some damage. It's a shame the media omitted his criminal past during the campaign.

[louis-t]

50. Typical repuke, thinks his status is more important than the people in his state.

He'll get brownie points from teabaggers for lowering taxes. Why would he "donate" his salary to charity? Why not give it back to the state? With the debt he will accumulate, I doubt he will make it 4 years, much less 8.

[bluestate10]

51. Pray that you don't have a snowstorm.

"All I can say is wait for the next hurricane or another emerging disaster...and there won't be enough workers in the public sector to respond."

But on the flip side, all the cops, firefighters, teachers,and other public employees that voted for Scott will get what they asked for. Such people always point to someone else as the problem, when they finally extract the boot that Scott is going to put in their asses out, they will have realized that in a society there is no "they", it's "all of us"

[bluestate10]

59. Color Florida blue in 2012.

Two years of Scott, republicans will be hard pressed to sell water to a seal in Florida. With Kasich in Ohio, things are looking pretty good for harvesting two big blue states.

[XanaDUer]

60. And this ex-Floridian is getting sadder and madder about

what is happening to my home state.

[Change Happens]

62. God, I live here...Looks like it will be even worse than the Jeb years....nt

[russspeakeasy]

64. This state is undereducated so it is no wonder that they

would elect a crook, liar and outright thief as the head of
the state.