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Governor Rick Scott has proposed a billion dollars in tax cuts, primarily for business. Lawmakers have already expressed some doubts, so as Mike Vasilinda tells us, Scott is about to wage a grass roots campaign to convince lawmakers.

Rick Scott is spending a million dollars on TV to convince lawmakers to cut taxes by a billion.

Nat sot of commercial

“I own a mortgage business. A technology firm. Manufacturing. My first business was a donut shop.”

It’s an unusual step for a sitting Governor.

Sot Brecht Heuchan

Lets Get to Work Spokesman

Q:”why do it? He has a big bully pulpit.”

A:”Sure he does, but its also important for him to make sure, A bully pulp on goes so far.”

Mike Vasilinda Standup

“Scott used the same tactic last year when he wanted 670 million in cuts. He got just over 400 million.”

If the same ratio applies this year, and that’s a big question, Scott would see cuts of about 600 million. But Karen Woodall of the Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy says Florida can’t afford that big a giveaway.

Sot: Karen Woodall

Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy

“You see that just about every institution that the state is responsible for is failing and people’s lives are at risk. We’ve got corrections, we’ve got mental health institutions. We have child welfare.”

Scott’s approval ratings have never hit 50%. Insiders speculate the TV campaign is just the forerunner of a run for the US Senate in 2018.

Sot: Sot Brecht Heuchan

Lets Get to Work Spokesman

Q:”Of course, cynics would say he’s planning to run for something.”

A: “Yes, I know. I’ve heard that. But he’s happy being Governor and he’s got at least three more years of doing this job and he’s laser focused on doing that job and laser focused on bringing more jobs to Florida.”

But campaign or not, Scott has never been the consulate political insider who can shake hands and backslap to get his way…so a grassroots effort may be his best chance of success.

One of the political problems for the tax cut package is that many of the cuts sought by the governor reduce revenue year after year, rattan than relying on a surplus for a one time cut like a tax free holiday.