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Broken Promises: Rick Scott Promised Floridians Jobs. They’re Still Waiting.

Rick Scott is campaigning for reelection across Florida, telling Floridians he’s on their side. But all Floridians see is a weak economy, thousands of people still looking for work, and a governor who has always put the wealthiest special interests first.

The truth is, Rick Scott has broken his promises to Floridians.

When Rick Scott campaigned for governor in 2010 he promised to create 700,000 jobs on top of normal growth, for a total of 1.7 million new jobs. But Scott has repeatedly moved the goal posts, misleading Floridians about his campaign’s central promise. But Rick Scott can’t even deliver on that: just 4% of the jobs Rick Scott takes credit for have actually been created. 

Click here to watch the FDP’s new anti-Rick Scott video, “Broken Promise.”


Background

Candidate Scott: “Our Plan Is…On Top of What Normal Growth Would Be.” “So our plan is seven steps to 700,000 jobs, and that plan is on top of what normal growth would be.” (Gubernatorial Debate, 10/20/10)

Gov. Scott: “No, that’s not true…I don’t know who said that.” “Your pledge to create new jobs was in addition to what was projected already over that seven year span. One million jobs were predicted and add 700,000 jobs to that.” Gov. Scott: “No, that’s not true…I don’t know who said that, so I have no idea.” (AP Interview, 8/19/11)

“Few Success And Hundreds of Unfilled Promises” in Rick Scott’s Jobs Record. Of the jobs Scott can influence most, only a fraction now exist. Scott has pledged $266 million in tax breaks and other incentives in return for 45,258 new jobs. But 96 percent of the jobs have yet to materialize, according to state data. (Tampa Bay Times, 12/6/13

“Scott Has Backtracked” On Job Promises Since He Was Elected. Scott has backtracked since he was elected, saying he merely meant the state would create 700,000 jobs in seven years. However, in an October 2010 televised debate with Democratic opponent Alex Sink, Scott said, “So our plan is seven steps to 700,000 jobs, and that plan is on top of what normal growth would be.” (Palm Beach Post, 3/30/12)

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