Statement from Sen. Audrey Gibson on Rick Scott Announcement

In response to Rick Scott’s announcement today, State Sen. Audrey Gibson released the following statement:

“Rick Scott cannot erase seven years of leaving behind my constituents and others throughout this state and now try to take his same show to Washington. His jobs incentive programs have not provided real jobs to the average Floridian because he counts failed potential job creation as a Florida job. A real job not an alternative fact. His latest slush fund scheme of doling out money has fallen short of long-term job creation with little to no reach deep into communities where unemployment and community development remains an issue.

Rick Scott backtracked on his promise and refused to expand Medicaid, hurting millions of Floridians and financially strapping the hospitals who take care of them in emergency rooms at a much higher cost. But what does he care he made his money in a hospital scam and refused to testify about the details.

Scott has refused to consider raising wages so that families can survive in a very service industry state and supported policies that grossly undermine public education including cutting education funding and touting a .47 cent increase in base student allocation as an historic increase.

And lest we forget Scott hid from responsibility for the lives of seniors lost in South Florida and the over a year of not providing information to FEMA to collect millions in Hurricane Matthew funds even after Hurricane Irma hit. Floridians cannot afford Rick Scott anymore, our families and our quality of life deserves better.”