Scott’s Self-Serving Politics Raise Taxes On Floridians While Cutting His Own

Bradenton Herald: Republican Richard Corcoran Slammed Scott’s Proposed “$450 Million Property Tax Increase”

Tampa Bay Times, Politico: Scott Backed GOP Tax & Health Care Proposals That Would Raise Costs On Working Families While Cutting His Own Taxes

Orlando Sentinel: Under Scott Any Tax Savings “Eaten Up By Higher Costs For…Everyday Expenses”

As Rick Scott discusses his record on taxes today, Florida Democratic Party Spokeswoman Caroline Rowland issued the following statement:

“Here’s the truth about Rick Scott’s self-serving record on this issue: he’s backed proposals to cut his own taxes while trying to raise taxes, fees and costs on Floridians who actually work for a living. Even Scott’s fellow Republicans have called his proposals to force Floridians to pay more property taxes ‘nonsensical’ and expensive for the middle class, while newspapers and independent observers have detailed how under Scott hardworking Floridians are seeing less money in their pockets. Just like always, Scott is trying to say anything to help himself – which is why Floridians don’t trust him to look out for them.”  

Here are the facts: Scott backed the GOP’s health care and tax plans that would cut his own taxes while raising costs for middle class families; Scott repeatedly backed proposals to force Floridians to pay hundreds of millions of dollars more in property taxes that his fellow Republicans called ‘nonsensical;’ and newspapers wrote that any savings Floridians could see from Scott’s tax proposals will be “Eaten Up By Higher Costs For…Everyday Expenses.”

THE REAL RICK SCOTT RECORD ON TAXES: HIGHER TAXES AND FEES ON WORKING FAMILIES WHILE TRYING TO CUT TAXES FOR HIMSELF:

Scott backed the GOP’s health care agenda and tax scam that would reduce his own taxes, while raising taxes and costs on hardworking Floridians:

• Tampa Bay Times Headline: Gov. Scott would be a big winner under GOP tax plan; AMT and estate tax changes would benefit wealthy governor. “Vice President Mike Pence took the GOP tax cut quest to Orlando on Thursday and promised utopia…The plan would also save money — a ton of it — for the man standing with him, Gov. Rick Scott. Among potential savings for the ultra-rich is an elimination of the alternative minimum tax. Scott’s 2013 tax return shows he paid $339,000 in AMT. A year before he shelled out $360,000. The estate tax would also be phased out after six years, a major boon for Scott, who in 2016 had a net worth of $149 million.”[Tampa Bay Times, 11/2/17]

• Politico: Scott would see big tax savings under Obamacare repeal. “Florida Gov. Rick Scott is urging Congress to keep trying to repeal Obamacare, but he’s not mentioning the personal benefit he would derive: a windfall tax cut of anywhere from $250,000 to $500,000.” [Politico FL, 4/11/17]

Scott has repeatedly backed proposals to force Floridians to pay hundreds of millions of dollars more in local property taxes, including $450 million in 2017, – a move that drew a rebuke from his fellow Republicans.

• Sun Sentinel Editorial Board: Local Property Tax “Increase” Under Scott More Than Any Tax Cut He Had Passed For Working Families. “Speaking of numbers, Scott will tout the cut in the tax on cellphones, but it will mean a whopping $20 per year. The governor will not talk about the increase in local property taxes for schools that the governor will allow by not lowering the levy known as the Required Local Effort. Since property values are rising, homeowners will pay more than they will save on their cellphone bill.” [Editorial, Sun Sentinel, 6/17/15]

• Bradenton Herald Headline: “Florida House Speaker Tells Gov. Rick Scott, Senate: ‘Hell, No’ On Tax Increase.” “‘The governor has in his budget a $450 million-plus property-tax increase,’ Corcoran told the Herald/Times. ‘That’s a ‘hell, no.’ That’s a ‘hell, no.’ We’re not raising property taxes to fund government waste. We’re not raising taxes on property owners to give it to business owners. It’s a non-starter. It’s nonsensical.’” [Bradenton Herald, 2/23/17]

• Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board Criticized Scott For Having Property Owners Pick Up Education Tab Through “Higher Tax Payments.” “Scott’s proposal would increase spending on public schools by $815 million, but more than half the increase would come from higher tax payments from local property owners. Corcoran is pushing back on this detail, too, vowing that the House won’t agree to ‘raise taxes.’ He’s got a point; while the governor has not proposed increasing the tax rate dedicated to school funding, rising real-estate values mean property owners will pay more if the rate isn’t reduced. If Scott thinks education is a worthy investment – we do – he ought to be willing to acknowledge that he’s counting on property owners to pick up most of the tab. Better yet, legislators could reconfigure his spending plan to reduce or eliminate the hit on property owners.” [Editorial, Orlando Sentinel, 2/3/17]

Editorial Boards And Independent Observers Slammed Scott’s tax agenda: Any Savings From Scott-Backed Tax Cuts Likely To Be “Eaten Up By Higher Costs For…Everyday Expenses”

• Orlando Sentinel Headline: Floridians’ Purses Pinched As Lawmakers Tout Tax Cuts. [Orlando Sentinel, 7/12/15]
• Orlando Sentinel: Any Savings From Scott-Backed Tax Cuts Likely To Be “Eaten Up By Higher Costs For…Everyday Expenses” Like Increased Health And Property Insurance Costs, Higher Utility Bills. “Gov. Rick Scott and lawmakers for both parties are touting cable and phone tax cuts signed into law last month, but many Floridians will likely see those savings eaten up by higher costs for a variety of everyday expenses next year. It will cost slightly more to drive Florida’s Turnpike. The state’s top insurance companies are seeking rate hikes for health and property coverage. State regulators recently allowed Florida Power & Light to pass on to consumers the cost of gas drilling known as fracking. Higher contributions to education funding required by the state will put pressure on county governments’ finances.” [Orlando Sentinel, 7/12/15]

• PolitiFact Florida: If “Regular, Taxpaying Floridian,” “Not A Whole Lot” Of Benefit For You From What Scott Touts As Tax Cuts. “If you’re a regular, taxpaying Floridian, there’s not a whole lot here for you…Sales tax holidays can change from year to year, and exemptions are temporary. Tax credits only save you money if you spend it somewhere else, and preventing property appraisals from going up if you improve the property means you still have to improve the property. Ending a fee increase isn’t so much a cut as it is saving people from paying more for something they have to pay anyway, like a hunting or fishing license. And don’t forget that many times, local governments may raise taxes to make up for their own lost revenue.” [PolitiFact Florida, 3/3/15]