Daniel TilsonWhat if two intrepid reporters cornered Gov. Rick Scott and…
Reporter A: Governor, why are you suddenly and so publicly supporting in-state tuition legislation that would let undocumented immigrants pay the same college tuition as legal residents?
Scott: Anybody who grew up in Florida should get to go to a state university without paying 15 percent more each year because Charlie Crist signed off on it as governor.
Reporter A: I wasn’t asking about tuition differential, or your re-election battle with Charlie Crist.
Reporter B: Besides, isn’t 15 percent a cap, and no college raised tuition that much, and increases were for improving academic programs and student financial aid?
Scott: We need to clean up Charlie Crist’s mess and help Florida students stay here for college, get a job, and become job creators.
Reporter A: But Governor, can you explain why you’ve reversed past opposition to in-state tuition? Are you hoping this wins you more Hispanic support?
Scott: I’ve talked to Hispanic students and families around the state, and they want jobs, good jobs, and to get a good job you have to get a good education.
Reporter B: But Governor, last year you vetoed legislation passed with bipartisan support that would have let children of undocumented immigrants get temporary driver licenses, so…
Scott: So I was really vetoing President Obama’s executive order that went too far on immigration.
Reporter B: But how can young Floridians go to college and get a good job when they’re not legally allowed to drive?
Scott: Well, first thing is, I know all too well what it’s like to have no car. Growing up poor, my father got fired and our car got repossessed, so I know how tough it can be to have no car, I learned the hard way how important public transportation can be, and a good job.
Reporter A: But if you learned how important public transportation and good jobs are, why’d you turn down $2 billion in federal funding and kill the Florida high speed rail project, which would have created thousands of good jobs and improved public transportation?
Scott: First off, I was elected to reduce government spending, to get Oba — uh, to get big government out of our way. And, to focus on creating the right environment here at home in Florida, so we can create our own good jobs, not go taking handouts from President Obama.
Reporter B: Governor, one report after another indicates most of the jobs created since you were elected have been low-wage jobs with no benefits, jobs Hispanic immigrants often end up doing, yet you’ve opposed wage-theft reform, opposed higher minimum wage increases and…
Scott: Excuse me, I did not opposethe minimum wage increase we had in January, putting more money in…
Reporter B: Governor, that was only a 14-cent an hour increase.
Scott: Well, we can’t tie the hands of job creators that create so many good jobs for Hispanics and other hard-working Florida families. My focus will stay on job creators — uh, job creation, and more tax cuts that put more…
Reporter B: But don’t middle-class taxpayers lose billions more paying public assistance for low-wage workers, than they gain with sales tax holidays and $25 auto fee cuts?
Scott: More jobs, less taxes, that’s my focus. Time for one last question…
Reporter A: So Governor, what’s your response to critics who call your conversion to supporting in-state tuition nothing more a re-election year political ploy to woo Hispanic voters?
Scott: I say more jobs, less taxes — and No Mas, time’s up.
Daniel Tilson has a Boca Raton-based communications firm called Full Cup Media, specializing in online video and written content for non-profits, political candidates and organizations, and small businesses. Column courtesy of Context Florida.
