A.G. Gancarski
Florida Gov. Rick Scott found his way to Jacksonville Beach Tuesday — his fifth stop of the day — to take a victory lap after a session where he ended up getting what he wanted.
And by his side: Reps. Cord Byrd, Jason Fischer, and Travis Cummings — three State Reps. he pilloried as the State House panned his economic incentive programs during the Regular Session.
As the pre-release statement said: “This tour will highlight an all-time high of K-12 per-pupil spending, the establishment of the $85 million Florida Job Growth Grant Fund, full funding for VISIT FLORIDA, and $50 million to kick-start repairs to the Herbert Hoover Dike surrounding Lake Okeechobee. Governor Scott fought for these important priorities all year.”
At previous stops, Scott was extolled as a “passionate warrior” by House Speaker Richard Corcoran, the leader of the legislative body that stymied Gov. Scott’s priorities for months. He also said he was still mulling the controversial education bill HB 7069 — which held as true during his last stop of the day as it did during his first
In Jacksonville Beach, it was worth watching to see how many of those who bucked Gov. Scott on incentives came home.
Scott’s remarks were brief. “Jobs,” said Scott, allowed for “record funding” for K-12 spending per pupil.
Visit Florida and the Florida Job Growth Fund: likewise extolled, the latter as a “different program that’s going to work,” with both infrastructure building and training employees as outcomes.
And the Dike?
When there’s a “good economy,” said Scott, we can “take care of the environment.”
And with President Trump’s commitment, the “jumpstart” money is just an initial investment.
The real unique value-add: the State Reps who had to let go of the acrimony from the Governor’s Office from weeks and months past.
Cord Byrd discussed the transformational education bill.
Jason Fischer quipped that “the Governor signed most of the budget into law.”
And Travis Cummings?
“The Governor vetoed a project or two of mine, but that’s OK,” Cummings said, given the need for tourist funding via Visit Florida — a remarkable shift in position.
One of those projects was big for Jacksonville: $15M in money for septic tank removal that didn’t make the cut.
We asked Cummings about the anomaly of being feted by a Governor who just months back aimed robocalls at him.
“Politics is a strange business,” Cummings said.
