Rick Scott's Big Push Ahead of Election
FORT LAUDERDALE (CBS4) - Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Scott plans to crisscross Florida over the next several days as Election Day draws close.
CBS4 News reporter Joan Murray sat down with Scott in Fort Lauderdale recently to get his take on the issues facing Floridians.
"I'm going to be a governor who says I want to solve problems," Scott told Murray. "That's what business people do. They like to solve problems, and that's what I like to do."
One of those problems is high unemployment. Scott said he can create 700,000 new jobs in seven years by making Florida the most attractive state to do business.
"I'm going to downsize government, freeze regulations when possible and cut taxes", Scott said. "I'll start with the property tax and then the business tax."
Scott also plans to cut property taxes by 19 percent, phase out the state business tax and reduce the state work force by five percent. He also said he would sell the state airplane and end pork barrel projects.
Scott said his vast business background has given him the tools to solve the state's most complex problems. But he has been criticized for the $1.7 billion dollars that his former company HCA had to pay in Medicare fines after Scott left the company.
Scott accepted responsibility and has said that he and his management team believed the company could have successfully fought the penalties but the board of directors chose otherwise.
Scott also believes he'll be able to work with the legislature in Tallahassee.
When it comes to education he says he believes we should measure teacher effectiveness on a per child basis.
"Ever child is different. My daughter who teaches special education can be measured on how the child improves over the year. And she should be compensated for that."
He also said parents should have as many choices as possible and he is in favor of expanding the magnet programs and charter schools.
Scott is conservative on social issues.
"I am pro life and I believe marriage is between a man and a woman."
He remains tough on immigration.
"If someone is violating our laws and gets stopped by police they should be asked if they are legal or not."
Though this is his first run for political office Scott said he is ready for the challenge and he will appoint people to boards and agencies that share his vision of putting Florida back to work.
