Peter SchorschA job isn’t just a job — it’s a purpose.
When I was growing up, my father did everything from construction work to TV repair to owning and operating a small business. His integrity and tremendous work ethic taught me that it wasn’t just about earning a paycheck. It was so much more than that. His work gave him an indelible sense of pride and purpose in life. His example truly instilled in me the values of hard work and personal responsibility. With what he earned from his small business, he was able to support our family and put me through school. Every father wants a better life for his children, so I strived to make the most out of the opportunities he afforded me.
Now, Gov. Rick Scott has been dedicating his term in office to the expansion of opportunity for everyone in Florida. What we’re doing here is contagious. Everyone wants a job, and every business wants to expand. Scott and our Republican-led Legislature are actively creating an economic climate where businesses thrive and families take root. Over the past three legislative sessions, Florida has adopted major tax cuts for job creators and the results are unmistakable.
Businesses such as Hertz, Coca-Cola and United Paradyne Corp. are investing in Florida. Since Scott took office, more than 330,000 private-sector jobs have been created, and the state unemployment rate has dropped almost 4 percentage points from a crippling 11.1 percent. Our economy was hit the hardest in the recession, but with Scott’s leadership since Dec. 2010, our unemployment rate has fallen twice as much as the national average.
Year-over-year, Florida’s unemployment rate has declined for 30 consecutive months. You can’t beat numbers like that.
Eleven years ago, I co-founded a professional services firm that is entirely devoted to helping people find jobs and helping companies find the right employees. My business is jobs. We work with individuals anywhere from a couple of months to upwards of a year and a half, connecting them with jobs in their fields.
When someone is out of work, the financial struggles their family endures and the seemingly endless searches they conduct can be difficult. But I can tell you first-hand, when they finally get that job, and you see their face light up, there is absolutely no greater feeling. It’s worth every effort to see the immediate pride and sense of self-worth wash over them.
Now, with Gov. Scott, they have a better chance of success in Florida than they do anywhere else.
Lenny Curry is the chairman of the Republican Party of Florida.
