Rick Scott Promises to Make Florida Do Worse Than the Nation In Job Growth

That should have been the headline to the NYT story on Florida governor Rick Scott, if they got their facts right. While it is common for politicians to make big promises and not come through, the NYT reports that Rick Scott is not expecting to even get Florida back to its pre-recession level of employment after 7 years in office.

According to the according to the article, Scott promised to create 700,000 jobs after 7 years in office. If Florida follows this path, it will have 7,862,000 jobs in January of 2018, more than 200,000 less than its pre-recession peak of 8,071,000 jobs in March of 2007. If Florida actually has 2.5 percent fewer jobs in 2018 than it did in 2007, then it is likely to rank near or at the bottom among states in job creation.

Instead of calling readers to attention to the meekness of the governor's promise, it effectively did a PR pitch for his performance, telling readers:

"And he has started to deliver. In the past year, more than 100,000 private-sector jobs have been created, and the state ranks third in job growth behind California and Texas, according to the latest Labor Department data."

Of course it should not be terribly surprising that Florida ranks third in job growth, since it is the fourth largest state in population, less than 3 percent behind third place New York.

Scott Says What He Means and Means What He Says
written by izzatzo, January 31, 2012 4:03 PM

Finally an honest pol rises from the cesspool of manufactured lies to say what he means and what does Baker do? Bashes him like he was one of the ordinary liars.

Baker's been shooting too many messengers to grasp the few gems of messages that do break through the fog of class war like this one. The man is on a mission and falling on his sword to complete it. Leave him be in the honor and glory of his word.

Stupid liberals.

-5

I'm Just Sure Rick Will Deliver on His Promise
written by PAUL, January 31, 2012 4:58 PM

Since FL is highly dependent on residential real estate and prices are still falling, it is only a matter of time before Rick puts the housing industry back on the road to prosperity - NOT!

Anyone who listens to Rick Scott or Rick Perry or Rick Santorum for 5 minutes and doesn't realize they are nincompoops, should get their hearing aides checked immediately.

Why businessmen should never be elected.
written by Kenny, January 31, 2012 9:30 PM

If Scott wanted to create jobs he would have never swallowed the idiotic libertarian rhetoric, and accepted the $2.5 billion from the federal government to build the high-speed rail. Regardless of what the tea partiers were saying (and the NYT) it would have paid for itself. The Florida Department of Transportation had a state legislature commissioned report that said so. AS one of his first official acts as Governor, he made sure that report was buried. The whole thing was supposed to built in Florida, not shipped in a cardboard box. As a Florida citizen, taxpayer, and someone who works with the manufacturing community it was the most appalling decision I've ever seen by a governor.

...
written by Bill H, January 31, 2012 11:54 PM

"it will have 7,862,000 jobs in January of 2018, more than 200,000 less than its pre-recession peak"

I know it's nitpicking, but oh my goodness. Grammar please. It's "more than 200,000 fewer than" for heaven's sake.

Rick Scott Promises to Make Florida Do Worse Than the Nation In Job Growth

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