DeSantis attacks Gillum’s tax plan

GOP candidate visits Chamber of Commerce event in Orlando

Republican Ron DeSantis, arguing that Florida must remain “a low-tax state,” took on his Democratic opponent Andrew Gillum for his plan to raise corporate taxes at the Florida Chamber of Commerce conference in Orlando on Thursday.

DeSantis, describing himself as “the only veteran running for governor at this point and the only unabashed capitalist running for governor at this point,” criticized Gillum’s call for the corporate tax rate to rise from 5.5 to 7.75 percent to generate $1 billion for education.

“We have a big choice ahead of us,” DeSantis told those assembled at the Hyatt Regency ballroom as he accepted the chamber’s endorsement. “And I think it’s important that Floridians view this election as an opportunity to take decisive action so that we can protect Florida for tomorrow. Because I think a lot of the progress that we made is up for grabs. I think it can be frittered away with bad polices, and it’s incumbent on us not to let that happen.”

DeSantis cited new Florida residents and businesses “voting with their feet” to come to Florida, comparing it with “high-tax, highregulation” states such as New York, New Jersey, Connecticut and Illinois and California.

“I think it’s important to maintain Florida’s character as a lowtax state,” DeSantis said. “I think the fact that our business rate is lower than other places in the Southeast gives us a competitive advantage. … All we’ve got to do is not mess it up.”

The former congressman said Gillum’s plan to raise the corporate rate “is basically telling people, don’t come to Florida, go to