James Call
Florida’s job-poacher-in-chief is at it again.
Enterprise Florida has been running an ad campaign in California, flaunting the Sunshine State’s economic climate, in advance of a trade mission by Gov. Rick Scott next week.
“Florida is Ready!” touts investments in the state’s ports and roads, encouraging California shipping companies to re-route businesses through Florida.
“With our low tax, business-friendly climate and our commitment to investing in our transportation infrastructure,” Scott said in a prepared statement, “Florida is ready to welcome more job creators to our state.”
In the past year, Scott visited a handful of states with the purpose of recruiting companies to Florida.
That didn’t go over well in the targeted areas.
The Harrisburg Patriot-News called a Scott trade mission to Pennsylvania “an act of war.”
After Scott sent a recruitment letter to Massachusetts companies, Boston Magazine chimed in with, “Florida is the most bat—- crazy state in the union.”
Scott has also focused on Kentucky, Colorado and a handful of other states.
Florida recently surpassed California as the second-best place to do business, according to a survey of business leaders. Scott intends to use “Florida is Ready!” to help overtake the No. 1 state — Texas — where the economy continues to reel from falling oil prices.
“The ad focuses on Florida business advantages such as close geographic location to the world’s fastest growing markets, reduced restrictions on large container vessels, and the state’s continued investment in ports,” Enterprise Florida spokeswoman Beth Frady said.
Florida is just one of many states recruiting “footloose” businesses with infrastructure subsidies, grants, and tax breaks, says Good Jobs First, a group advocating corporate responsibility in economic development.
Scott will be in California Sunday and Monday.
“California has some of the highest taxes in the country and is ranked 50th in regulatory freedom,” Scott said.
This is coming from the man who won two gubernatorial elections by preaching fewer taxes and less regulation as the secret to attracting the investments that create jobs.
“Elected officials in California are not making it easier for businesses to succeed,” he said. “I look forward to meeting with California companies next week as we continue to work toward making Florida the global destination for jobs.”
