The Continued Effort For Job Increases in FloridaGov. Rick Scott is singularly focused. It was the same focus at the forefront of his campaign to become Florida's chief executive. It was the same focus at the center of his agenda during his first year in office. And, it was the same focus of the State of the State address he gave Tuesday at the opening of the 60-day legislative session. "In the past year, Floridians, not government, created almost 135,000 new private sector jobs," he said. "We netted more than 120,000 total jobs in the first 11 months of 2011, the third most of any state in the nation. In Florida, those jobs produced the second-largest drop in unemployment in the country. When I said, 'Let's get to work,' it wasn't just a slogan. Florida got to work and each Floridian deserves the credit." With a dismal economy the past several years and high rates of home foreclosures and unemployment, job creation is and must be a high priority for the governor and the Legislature. But, creating those jobs must be balanced against the potential costs in other areas. Reduce unnecessary regulations, certainly, but don't eliminate those that are essential to the health and safety of the public and for the protection of our air and water. Encourage new and expanding businesses with financial incentives, but demand that those businesses live up to their requirements for private investment and jobs creation. Giving tax breaks to big business while shifting financial burdens onto middle- and lower-income families is unacceptable. Beyond his call for continued efforts to create jobs, Scott's other priorities include providing an additional $1 billion for K-12 schools and automobile insurance reform to reduce fraud. That limited agenda is in stark contrast to the agendas of the Legislature and the governor last year that featured bold — some would say radical — initiatives, from teacher tenure to slashing state funding for agencies such as water districts. Scott conceded the need for a limited agenda during his recent meeting with the editorial board of Scripps Treasure Coast Newspapers, noting that with the need to balance a budget that will have to be reduced by about $2 billion and the need to adopt new congressional and state legislative election districts the time and the desire to tackle much more than that may not be available. This was a different Rick Scott than the corporate CEO Rick Scott who began his tenure a year ago as a determined outsider intent on shaking things up. He seems far more comfortable in his role as governor and with the advisers who now surround him. His on-the-job training includes a recognition that he needs cooperation of fellow GOP lawmakers to accomplish his goals for Floridians. And, that spirit of cooperation may extend even beyond that. "No person, profession or party has a monopoly on all the good ideas," he said. "The commitment I make to those here today is to keep open, clear lines of communication so that together in our time in the Capitol can best be spent in the service of those who sent us here. That is my pledge to you." As the governor gave his address, a new poll reported that Floridians give him a 38 percent job approval rating. As dismal as those numbers are, they represent an improvement. And, if Scott abides by his pledge to listen to all Floridians in helping to shape the state's future, those poll numbers, which the governor claims not to care about, should improve unemployment. And, if the agenda for the governor and for the Legislature during this session is limited, that may not be such a bad thing. For many Floridians, the less the Legislature does the better. Filing for Florida Unemployment online. Check the current Florida unemployment rate. #Florida #Unemployment Author: Mark Quinones, Unemployment-Extension.Org. |
|