Floridians know Rick Scott is no stranger to giving taxpayer handouts to his friends and campaign donors. It should come as no surprise that a new report details Rick Scott’s role in actively facilitating a plan to siphon funds from Florida taxpayers to his friend Jonathan Hage’s for-profit charter school company, Charter Schools USA.

“It’s simple. If you want to get rich quick on the dime of Florida taxpayers, all you need to do is write a check to Rick Scott’s reelection campaign. Floridians that work hard and play by the rules are sick of the pay-to-play politics that’s enveloped this state since Rick Scott has been elected,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant.

The superintendent of Hillsborough County schools, MaryEllen Elia, reached out to MacDill officials to address their concerns regarding education for children living on the base. Elia offered to convert a local school into a K-8 school, and offered to run a charter school for MacDill if that was the route they wished to pursue. 

Her calls were ignored.  

At the recommendation of Rick Scott, without regard to the offer of assistance from Hillsborough County schools, MacDill officials began moving forward with their plans to enrich a major campaign donor of Rick Scott.

“Rick Scott’s role in steering MacDill officials to subvert the public school infrastructure already in place to handle the needs of these children is inexcusable. This is just another example of Rick Scott putting the desires of wealthy special interests above everything else,” said Florida Democratic Party Chair Allison Tant.