Rick Scott: Let's Make FL Colleges the Walmart of Education

Another day, another half-baked scheme from the Madoff of Medicare… 

When voters stood in long lines, waiting 6, 7 and even 8 hours to cast a ballot this election, what did Rick Scott do? Extend the hours or repeal the law?  Nope. His solution was to launch a taxpayer funded committee to explore the problem. After weeks, still no action has been taken to right this wrong.

So, it should come as no surprise that Scott’s latests move to fix Florida’s skyrocketing tuition costs comes in the form of a $10K wager. After slashing $300 million from higher education, cutting Bright Futures scholarships and spiking tuition for students and middle class families, Scott is basing his new education policy on a “gimmick pretending to be a policy used as a sound bite.” 

Instead of funding Florida’s higher education system, Scott is relying on the same failed policies which have been rejected by Florida’s voters: spending millions of tax dollars on handouts to corporate special interests who create low paying jobs  — while refusing to seriously invest in the public schools, colleges and universities which are the pathways to grow our state’s economy. 

We’ve heard these empty words from Rick Scott before and Florida’s middle class families are looking for real leadership — not failed gimmicks masquerading as sound bites. 

1/9/12: Governor Scott: “securing the right of every Floridian to a quality education” would be a priority [Gov. Scott’s “State of the State,” 1/9/2012]

2/29/12: Scott cut the “Bright Futures” Scholarship program. [Miami Herald, 2/29/12; NPR’s StateImpact, 8/20/12]

3/1/12:  Scott cut $300 million for higher education and universities [Palm Beach Post, 3/1/2012]

3/5/12:  Scott budget raised tuition on college students by 5-percent. [Gainesville Sun, 3/5/12]

3/7/12: Scott forced students to face tuition increase [Tampa Bay Times, 3/7/2012; WUSF, 3/1/2012]

6/21/12: UCF Trustees make clear that tuition increases the result of Scott’s cuts. [UCF Board of Governors, 6/21/12]

7/10/12: GOP’s cuts to Bright Futures are “squeezing college students as tuition increases.” [Naples Daily News, 7/10/12] 

9/20/12: At Gulf Coast University, “Students sign petition protesting education cuts.” [ABC 7, 9/20/12]

10/8/12: Scott proposes giving more tax dollar handouts to corporate special interests who create low paying jobs [News Service of Florida, 10/8/12; Orlando Sentinel, 10/24/12] 

11/26/12: Governor Scott: “Florida must be focused on affordability in higher education.” [Miami Herald, 11/26/12]

Actions speak louder than words, Governor.