Marion County Has Not Recovered From Rick’s Recession

Marion County Has Not Recovered From Rick’s Recession

In response to Rick Scott appearing in Ocala in Marion County, which is one of 36 Florida counties the Florida Chamber found has lost jobs under Scott’s administration, Florida Democratic Party Chair Terrie Rizzo issued the following statement:

“Does Rick Scott think he is fooling anyone by talking about new jobs in a county that has lost thousands of jobs under his administration? It is insulting to the people of Ocala and the people of Marion County for him to talk about creating jobs – when the county has 8,000 fewer jobs than it did in 2007. Scott can’t hide from his record – he’s created an economy that works for him, and his wealthy friends and donors – not hardworking Florida families.” 

This is just days after a fellow Republican, who knows the truth about the state’s economy under Scott, “swipes” at Scott’s jobs record.

• “You have 36 counties today with less jobs than they did when they entered the recession,” state Sen. Tom Lee said Monday.
• Politico pointed out “that’s bad” for Scott, who plans to run for Senate on his jobs record.  

Rick Scott’s recession has left behind more than half of Florida counties and he’s also left behind Florida schools – Scott and lawmakers are “abrogating a paramount duty” by failing to provide adequate resources for schools, according to the Ocala Star Banner.

• “At some point, the governor and our legislators need to realize there is a reason for all the wailing from the business sector about a lack of skilled and adequately prepared workers coming out of our schools. That reason is schools simply do not have enough resources to provide all the education 21st century students need.”
• “The superintendents merely want lawmakers to provide enough funding to cover the actual cost of everyday operations and, maybe, a small raise for teachers. Of course, Scott rejected the request and legislative leaders scoffed, essentially scolding the superintendents.”
• “The fact is Florida education funding, when adjusted for inflation, is below what it was in 2007.”
• “While Florida next year will provide $7, 408 in funding per student, the national average is well over $10,000.”
• “Florida’s school buildings are in disrepair, its bus fleets are aging, its teachers are underpaid, to many textbooks are a generation old and there is not enough technology as part of the education process.”