Gov. Scott: ‘Our work is not done’

TALLAHASSEE – With one eye on his agenda and another on his legacy, Gov. Rick Scott focused Tuesday on his familiar theme of job creation but also called for more funding for education, the environment and the opioid epidemic in his final State of the State address.

In the speech that kicked off the first day of the legislative session, Scott also recognized Sgt. Sam Howard and Officer Matthew Baxter, two Kissimmee officers fatally shot last year, and Orlando Police Lt. Debra Clayton, slain while trying to apprehend murder suspect Markeith Loyd.

Scott took credit for the 1.5 million jobs added in Florida since he took office in 2011 and the economic recovery in general since the Great Recession. He added that

he would push hard for his priorities this year, which include cutting taxes by $180 million and making it harder for future lawmakers to raise taxes.

“Our work is not done,” Scott said. “We must secure our future by investing record funding in our environment, our education system and our transportation infrastructure.”

Scott has recommended an $87.4 billion budget to lawmakers, the largest of his term in office, with funding increases for nearly every agency and more than 500 additional state workers.

Democrats see Scott’s push for greater spending as an election-year conversion as he considers a run for U.S. Senate.

They contend Florida’s recovery has been led by lowpaying jobs in urban areas, leaving out rural counties in Florida. According to federal data, Florida’s average hourly wage was $21.18 as of May 2016, well below the national average of $23.86.

“Obviously it’s only going to be a pretty picture that’s painted here today,” Rep. Evan Jenne, D-Dania Beach, told the Associated Press. “You can make numbers dance and when you look at 1.5 million jobs. It looks good, but when you look at what people are actually making, it’s not a good look.”

This year, Scott’s tax cut plans include a 10-day backto-school sales-tax holiday and a reduction in the driver’s license renewal fee from $48 to $20.

He also wants lawmakers to pass a proposed constitutional amendment that would require a two-thirds vote of the Legislature to raise taxes in the future. If approved by the Legislature, the measure would be placed on the November ballot.

As he spoke about Clayton, Scott — without mentioning her name — took a shot at Orange-Osceola State Attorney Aramis Ayala for her stand against the death penalty last year. Ayala initially refused to seek the death penalty against Loyd, and Scott transferred that case and more than 20 others to a different state attorney.

“In Florida we have zero tolerance for anyone who attacks our law enforcement officers, and I will fight to make sure justice is swift and these killers are prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law,” Scott said.

It’s not clear, however, just how much support Scott can garner for his agenda from his fellow Republicans in charge of the Legislature during his last year in office. GOP lawmakers have often given Scott a fraction of tax cuts he requested.

Scott wants to use rising local property tax values to help pay for increases in K-12 school funding. It’s an idea the Senate supports, but House Speaker Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’Lakes, is dead-set against it, declaring it will “never” happen because he considers it a tax increase.

Corcoran is considering a run to replace Scott and has lined up a slew of bills to pass during the first week of the session that could bolster his case in a Republican primary. Bills to ban lawmakers from lobbying for six years, impose greater transparency and ethics requirements on local government and ban taxpayer funding for sports arenas are all set for House floor votes.

Another bill slated to pass this week is HB 9, which would ban “sanctuary” policies in cities that allow local law enforcement to refuse to cooperate with federal immigration enforcement officials. No Florida cities currently have sanctuary policies, but Corcoran said the bill was important nonetheless.

“When politicians abandon the rule of law and abuse their power – when they pick and choose what laws to obey – there are dire, dire consequences,” Corcoran said.

House Democratic Leader Janet Cruz of Tampa said the bill was more of a political stunt.

“Frankly, this campaignstyle political theater is disgraceful,” Cruz said. “This bill is dangerous, and it’s time we consider it for what it is — a trampling of fundamental constitutional principles only to drum up headlines and support from a political base.”

Senate President Joe Negron, R-Stuart, said his priorities include expanding Bright Futures Scholarships to cover 100 percent of tuition and adding a $300 stipend for books. He also stressed the need to help solve the opioid crisis, aid recovery efforts for Hurricane Irma and help Puerto Ricans displaced by Hurricane Maria.

Scott said he wanted to make sure Florida welcomes Puerto Ricans fleeing the island, and his budget calls for $50 million to address the opioid crisis.

The Senate has been hobbled by the resignation of Sen. Jack Latvala, R-Clearwater, announced last month in the wake of sexual harassment allegations against him. Negron said he has improved the reporting process for harassment allegations.

“The Florida Senate has zero tolerance for sexual harassment or misconduct of any kind against any employee or visitor,” Negron said.