Staff Reports
Gov. Rick Scott on Monday begins his “$1 Billion Tax Cut Tour,” which he says is intended to “grow small businesses and diversify” Florida’s more than $750 billion state economy.
But already signs are that fellow Republicans in the GOP-controlled Legislature will push back.
Scott says the dramatic tax cuts will help withstand the next economic downturn, whenever that comes. Much of his proposed package is aimed at businesses.
Lawmakers counter that Scott’s proposal surpasses the budget surplus that state economists are currently forecasting, meaning the tax cut package could be a deficit creator.
Scott has consistently called for tax cuts since he was first elected five years ago, and earlier this year, lawmakers did agree to more than $400 million in tax cuts.
For consumers, Scott proposes extending the current sales tax exemption on the purchase of college textbooks for an additional year.
Also, his plan includes a 10-day back-to-school sales tax holiday and 9-day hurricane preparedness sales tax holiday.
To gin up public support, Scott will make stops in Melbourne, Tampa, Miami, West Palm Beach, Fort Myers, Jacksonville and Panama City.
Late Sunday, his office announced details of the first set of stops, including a 9:30 a.m. Monday appearance at Northrop Grumman, 1510 Grumman Place in Melbourne; noon at Monin Gourmet Flavorings, 2100 Range Road in Clearwater and 3:45 p.m. at Shell Lumber, 2733 S.W. 27th Avenue in Miami.
The 2016 Legislative Session begins Jan. 12.
For more information, go to http://floridafirstforjobs.com/
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
