45th Florida Governor Rick Scott Pledges to Work for Jobs, Independence

Rick Scott sworn in as Florida's 45th governor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. — Republican Rick Scott was sworn in Tuesday as Florida’s 45th Governor and immediately started talking about how he’ll follow through on his campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs in seven years. Scott told the crowd gathered outside the historic Capitol that he understands the hardship of Unemployment because his father was often Laid Off and his mother had to take in ironing to put food on the table. "I have a very clear memory of their fear and uncertaint...

Scott sworn in as Florida's 45th governor
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) - Republican Rick Scott declared "Job Creation is a mission" after being sworn in Tuesday as Florida's 45th Governor, and he vowed to move swiftly on an agenda of lower taxes, smaller government and less Regulation. Scott told the crowd gathered outside the historic Capitol that he understands the hardship of Unemployment because his father was often Laid Off and his mother had to take on ironing work to put food on the table. "I have a clear memory of their fear and unc...

Extreme security marks Rick Scott's inauguration as governor
Tallahassee -- Rick Scott is bringing change to the capital in more ways than one. Florida's new Governor was the star of the most security-conscious inauguration in recent memory, with elaborate Washington-style flourishes that amplified Scott's unfamiliarity with the small, informal capital city he now calls home. For two days, Scott was trailed by a cadre of dark-suited men who resembled law-enforcement agents, but were not. They wore red lapel buttons and silver earpieces, checking visito...

> Photos: Governor Scott is Floridas 45th
Rick Scott took the Oath of Office, sworn in at 11:57 a.m. as Florida’s 45th Governor, during the Inauguration ceremony in front of the Old Capitol in Tallahassee, Tuesday. Scott was welcomed by a who’s who of current and former state leaders, including former governors Charlie Crist , Jeb Bush, Bob Martinez , and Claude Kirk . Scott’s day started with a prayer breakfast at Florida A & M University and later included the Inaugural parade and the Inaugural Ball at the Tallah...

Scott's first official act: freeze rules, screen state workers
Gov. Rick Scott hustled from the inaugural stage to his Capitol office where shortly before 1 p.m. he signed four Executive Orders aimed at fulfilling some of his campaign p  pledges. Scott created the Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform Office to review all proposed and existing state regulations to gauge whether they’re worth keeping. Now ex-Gov. Charlie Crist’s former Budget director, Jerry McDaniel, will lead the office. Within the orders signed, Scott also is freezing ru...

Inaugural Pool Report: Scott signs orders, dodges questions
TALLAHASSEE — Gov. Rick Scott hustled from the inaugural stage to his Capitol office where shortly before 1 p.m. he signed four Executive Orders aimed at fulfilling some of his campaign p  pledges. Scott created the Fiscal Accountability and Regulatory Reform Office to review all proposed and existing state regulations to gauge whether they’re worth keeping. Now ex-Gov. Charlie Crist’s former Budget director, Jerry McDaniel, will lead the office. Within the orders signed, ...

We still don't really know the enigmatic Rick Scott
Tallahassee -- Not since an outsider named Claude Kirk took the oath of office 44 years ago have Floridians welcomed a Governor as enigmatic as Rick Scott. We know the broad strokes of Scott's agenda: slash government and taxes, cut the Regulation and Lawsuits that hurt business. We know he's a hard-charging CEO who intends to be ambitious, maybe even radical, in striving for Job Creation. ``I will be resolute in seeking bold -- probably more bold than some people like -- but bold, positive...

It's Gov. Rick Scott: Fifth Republican since Reconstruction sworn into office
Naples businessman Rick Scott was sworn in as Florida's 45 Governor at 11:56 a.m. On a comfortable 50 degree, sligtly overcast day, Scott was joined by his family on a stage in front of the historic Capitol while the four GOP governors who preceeded him watched on: Charlie Crist, Jeb Bush, Bob Martinez and Claude Kirk. Scott is now giving his Inaugural Speech. Here's a copy of the prepared remarks. ...

Tight security, limited press access on display at Gov. Rick Scott's inauguration
Tallahassee - Rick Scott is bringing change to the capital in more ways than one. Florida's new Governor was the star of the most security-conscious inauguration in recent memory, with elaborate Washington-style flourishes that amplified Scott's unfamiliarity with the small informal capital city he now calls home. For two days, Scott was trailed by a cadre of dark-suited men who resembled Law Enforcement agents, but were not. They wore red lapel buttons and silver ear pieces, checking visitors...

Wistfully, Charlie Crist hands over the reins to Rick Scott
flnews flapol legis politics Tallahassee - For the incoming Governor, inauguration day is exciting. For the outgoing one, it's like watching your own Funeral. 7 a.m. Tuesday - Rick Scott leaves the Governor's Mansion, where he has spent the night. Charlie Crist sits on a 19-seat Continental Airlines puddle-jumper from Tampa to Tallahassee, reading the paper. In front of him is Tony Collins, a PR man from Tampa, and Stuart Rogel, with the Tampa Bay Partnership. They're flying to see Scott....

State Medicaid 'opt out' will undermine seniors care quality, threaten healthcare jobs
Governors have a unique perspective on how this historic Recession has strained our Budgets and challenged the ability of states to fund Medicaid -- the key safety net program for 60 million of our poorest Americans. Most states are required to balance their budgets, and with the Recession drastically reducing state revenues, governors across America, myself included, have been forced to make difficult decisions. Since Medicaid is a substantial part of every state budget, the program is often ...

New Florida Governor Rick Scott 'On the Record'
What do you think of Congress TODAY? ...

House GOP asks business for advice on regulations
WASHINGTON — House Republicans are turning to their business allies as they move to scrap Obama Administration programs and Regulations as varied as controlling Greenhouse Gases, regulating the Internet and modifying home Mortgages. Incoming committee chairmen already have asked businesses to identify Regulations that kill jobs. They’ve also denounced new Climate Change rules, pledged to stop regulation of the Internet and proposed shutting down a troubled program to modify Mortgages...

Rick Scott to be sworn-in as Florida's 45th governor
Tallahassee - Incoming Gov. Rick Scott and his fellow Republicans on the Florida Cabinet take the oath of office Tuesday and celebrate with a day of events that will temporarily shut down the heart of the capital city. The action starts with a prayer breakfast at Florida A&M; University. The Keynote Speaker at the breakfast is former President Richard Nixon's counsel Charles Colson, who pleaded guilty in 1974 to obstruction of justice in the Watergate-related break-in of Psychiatrist Daniel Ell...

261,000 new jobs on Main Street
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Small businesses saw a sharp jump in hiring in December, according to an ADP report released Wednesday. The Private Sector added 297,000 jobs overall last month, with almost all of the gains coming from companies with less than 500 workers. Those firms added a net 261,000 new positions during the month, ADP estimates. Email Print Comment The smallest companies -- those with fewer than 50 workers -- added 117,000 jobs. That's their biggest monthly hiring surge since ...

Scott signs executive orders on regulation, diversity, ethics and E-verify
TALLAHASSEE - Minutes after being sworn in, Gov. Rick Scott signed four Executive Orders — the two biggest freezing new government Regulation and requiring state agencies to use the E-verify system to check whether job applicants are in the U.S. legally. Scott also signed two Executive Orders establishing a new office policy on ethics and open government, and re-affirming a ”policy of non-discrimination in state contracting without regard for race, gender, c...

Jeb willing to advise Rick Scott
Besides his news-making declaration that he wouldn't rule out a 2016 run, Jeb Bush showed, once again, how powerful a figure he is in Florida politics at yesterday's inauguration for Rick Scott. "My role in life as a former is to be on call. If the new guy calls, I'll give him my advice. He doesn't have to take it. I won't tell anybody that I gave it. I won't be offended if he doesn't take it. If he doesn't call me, my life goes on. No Big Deal either. So, I want him to succeed and if being su...

Scott launches an ambitious, ambiguous agenda
TALLAHASSEE — Gov.  Rick Scott was sworn in Tuesday and immediately set gargantuan goals for his administration, pledging to scale back government Regulation, place new limits on injury Lawsuits and grow The Economy in a time of dwindling state resources. To set a tone, the 58-year-old Republican immediately signed an executive order creating an office designed to combat government regulation - requiring that all new rules be reviewed before being allowed to take effect. But in ...

New Florida governor promises to add jobs and cut tax
TALLAHASSEE, Florida (Reuters) - Former Hospital executive and political novice Rick Scott was sworn in as Florida Governor on Tuesday and he promised to create jobs, reduce government Regulation and eliminate the state's corporate Income Tax. Scott, a 58-year-old Republican, took the oath of office on the steps of the old State Capitol building in Tallahassee. In his inaugural address, he said Job Creation would be his top priority. "Florida has to offer business people the biggest opportunity ...

Florida Gov.-elect Rick Scott eyes 'game-changing' education overhaul
Gov.-elect Rick Scott wants Florida parents in the driver's seat when it comes to their Children's education, and he's considering a number of ways to put them there despite questions and criticism from school leaders. Scott's plans might include allowing parents to choose which schools their kids attend, regardless of attendance zones or county lines. Parents might be able to use state tax money to send their kids to Private School or to cover home-schooling expenses — or, perhaps, to tu...

Scott set to take final step in improbable journey to Florida governor
Tallahassee -- Republican Rick Scott will take the final step in his improbable journey from Public Housing to the Governor's Mansion when he is sworn in at high noon Tuesday as the state's 45th governor. Scott, 58, will take office with the same pro-business zeal he displayed on the Campaign Trail, delivering an Inaugural Speech acknowledging the state's economic crisis and promising Tax Cuts and less Government Spending as a harbinger of job growth in Florida. ``My job is to make sure tha...

Rick Scott prepares to be sworn in as governor
Tallahassee - With Lee Greenwood singing "I'm proud to be an American," inaugural ceremonies for Gov. Rick Scott and three new Cabinet members - an all-new Florida Re[publican government - began this morning on the steps of the state's historic Old Capitol. Thousands of dignitaries and invited guests fanned out in front of the Capitol. Only about a half-dozen were introduced, with the biggest cheers by far for former Gov. Jeb Bush and his son, Jeb Jr. Outgoing Gov. Charlie Cri...

Joy Behars Stupid Question
It has often been said that there is no such thing as a stupid question. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say it’s never stupid to seek answers, but it’s not hard to come up with examples of inane inquiries. Consider a recent gem from the cantankerous Joy Behar. In a discussion with leftist radio talker Bill Press, she marveled at the anticipated reading of the entire U.S. Constitution from the House floor. Do you think this Constitution-loving is getting out of hand? If ever t...

Texas Leading Way on Nuclear Energy Revival
The Wall Street Journal reports today that the Texas Low-Level Radioactive Waste Disposal Compact Commission voted 5-2 yesterday to approve rules for accepting out-of-state nuclear materials. This is a huge victory for the Nuclear Energy industry which currently only has three other such storage sites in the U.S. Nuclear Energy Institute Ralph Andersen tells the WSJ: “This is a major milestone. It’s going to provide much needed space.” The site will not store highly contamina...

Attacking Unions Through Budget Fights
In yesterday’s Steven Greenhouse article on attacks on Unions at the state level in the New York Times, there’s a great passage about how the right is trying to undercut Unions through Budget crises. Some union leaders say that proposals like right-to-work laws, which have little effect on state budgets, show that Republicans are using Budget woes as a pretext to undercut unions. “They’re throwing the kitchen sink at us,” said Randi Weingarten, president of the American Feder