Scott Challenges Status Quo
January 4th, 2011 by Mike VasilindaGovernor Rick Scott took the oath of office as Florida’s 45th Governor amid clear skies and balmy conditions on the steps of the Capitol today. Scott started as an outsider and is continuing as an anti-regulation, anti-government administration.
It was unlike any recent inaugurations. County singer Lee Greenwood entertained.
“We need a lot more like Rick Scott, me and you,” sang Greenwood.
The balmy 60 degree day was a far cry from recent sub-freezing inaugurations as Scott took the oath of office, which included the phrase “I am duly qualified to hold office.”
Cannons boomed. Jets flew overhead. But that’s where similarities to past inaugurations stopped. This was an anti-government campaigner now leading the fourth largest state in the nation. “We’re not going to cling to models created in a prior century,” said Scott. “We’re not going to allow bureaucracies to make our decisions for us.”
Like Rick Scott, this was Betty Jo Sellar’s first inauguration. She came because she believes the new Governor is different. “I just think we’re ready. I think the people’s ready to back him and and try to do something.” So we asked “You think change is needed?” Betty Jo replied: “I definitely think change is needed…definitely”.
One of the Governor’s first actions: signing a proclamation to look at regulations that are hindering jobs.
And although he got less than 50% of the vote, Scott is making it clear he is on a mission. “We’ve got to change the way we run the state (he says thank you to well wishers)…Got to change the way we run the state. We’re gonna look at all the regulations and we’re gonna get this state back to work.”
It is a message that political scientist Susan MacManus says registers with voters. “He pretty much gave a very staunchly anti-government or anti politics as usual kind of speech,” says MacManus.
While his promises are many, Scott says he is willing to be measured, just as he wants to measure the results of all of government.
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