Rick Scott blasts proposed virus relief funds for New York as political 'payback'

The Senator appeared on the Fox News Channel on Sunday Morning.

U.S. Sen. Rick Scott spent part of his Sunday morning warning a cable news audience about so-called “blue state bailouts.”

The Senator, appearing on Sunday morning’s edition of Fox and Friends, railed against the latest COVID-19 spending proposed by President-elect Joe Biden, to the benefit of Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.

Scott, a first-term Republican who also is helming Senate campaign efforts for the 2022 cycle, railed against a small fraction of that proposed federal support: $2 billion to New York that would be swept from FEMA and repurposed.

The Senator, who has focused intensely on Florida vs. New York comparisons for years now, blasted the proposed spend as politically-targeted “payback.”

“This is just payback,” Scott told interviewer Will Cain. “This is just Joe Biden saying ‘Oh, Chuck Schumer you helped me … Oh, Bill DiBlasio you helped me.'”

“So here’s two billion dollars from FEMA that’s supposed to go for hurricanes and floods and wildfires and other natural disasters. And what he … what Biden wants to do is give it to DiBlasio and [New York Gov. Andrew] Cuomo and say ‘I know you can’t live within your means. I know other states are going to pay for this. But we’re going to give you some money for free, because we like you.'”

“This is wrong,” Scott added. “We shouldn’t have Florida taxpayers bailing out New York. New York cannot live within its means.”

“I want targeted help for people. But to bailout these blue states makes no sense,” Scott added.

The Senator’s critique of so-called “blue state bailouts” is well established at this point, but the Sunday morning talking points on the subject perhaps illustrate the near term future for Scott.

Now liberated from having to defend the indefensible from the Trump administration, he and other Republican lawmakers will have more latitude to position themselves as responsible stewards of America’s finances in spots like this.

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6 comments

Palmer Tom
January 17, 2021 at 11:16 am

Oh, STFU
DisplacedCTYankee
January 17, 2021 at 12:03 pm

Every time a red state like Floriduh gets federal funds it’s thanks to blue states, which pay a ton more in federal taxes.
Sonja Fitch
January 17, 2021 at 12:55 pm

Lol Nazi Rick! You know more about hustling/stealing tax dollars than any New Yorker….but Trump! Lol Nazi Rick stfu! Resign you are a goptrump death cult sociopath racist traitor! Go away !
Glenn Reihing
January 17, 2021 at 1:39 pm

PSA: This person is a well-known, corrupt politician.

Scott wants you to forget that revenues to the states in order to run them dried up during the pandemic because of the shutdown. That’s just basic economics.

Remember he has ignored the Cares Act that was passed in the House in May. Went on vacation at the end of July while Floridians saw themselves go deeper into food insecurity, and placed at higher risk for evictions. He has been against portions of this bailout package that is going to help Americans affected by this pandemic.

This is going to keep people in their jobs and prevent furloughs as states struggle to find revenue to meet their budgets.

Oh wait!! Scott’s the guy that voted for the 2017 Tax cut that did nothing for the average American except increased taxes by $365.00 for those in the $20,000 – $30,000k bracket starting this year according to Joseph Stiglitz, a Nobel-prize economist.

Seems like economics is not Scott’s strong suit.
Ocean Joe
January 18, 2021 at 7:22 am

Glenn, Scott was governor when it passed, although he was running for the senate and did make public statements of support for the tax cut. Bill Nelson voted no. The tax cut blew a giant hole in the already giant deficit. It did not result in the benefits claimed, it did not pay for itself, even Marco Rubio, who voted for it, complained it failed to help people down the ladder. Your other points about Scott are well stated.

The tax cut should not have passed, since a similar tax cut passed under W. Bush, whose presidency ended, like this one, in a financial calamity known as The Great Recession. Both were passed with Republican controlled senates. History repeats.
PeterH
January 18, 2021 at 2:18 pm

Florida is the number 3 recipient of USA Treasury aide. Florida would not be able to survive were it not propped up by Blue State contributions to the treasury.

Wouldn’t you wonder why Rick Scott and Ron DeSantis continue to ensure Florida continues in the grifter State status? Why is it that Florida is not self supporting?