Scott: Tax Cutting Has Only Just Begun

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services officials said they wanted the state, which also has a federal waiver for a managed care Medicaid system that relies on private insurers, to develop “sustainable, transparent, equitable, appropriate, accountable and actuarially sound Medicaid payment systems and funding mechanisms that will ensure quality health care services to Florida’s Medicaid beneficiaries throughout the state without the need for Low Income Pool (LIP) funding”. The governor’s move could run into resistance from legislative leaders who say that while they support tax cuts they are wary of how deep to cut.

“As we get more people moving to our state, our taxes should be going down”, Scott said during the annual legislative preview meeting hosted by The Associated Press. “We have barely any money left”, Scott said. That tax break is due to expire in 2017. The $20 million request will be part of Scott’s budget recommendations for 2016.

During a brief round of questions, Scott said he hoped the Legislature would approve more money for the quick action closing fund he and Enterprise Florida use to fund incentives for prospective businesses.

Scott last January asked for $20 million for technical centers but his request was not funded by legislators.

“You actually won’t win the deals”, Scott said.

Economic forecasts indicate only about a tenth of the state’s surplus can be put toward recurring programs without sending Florida into the red. The programs would be aimed at helping train students within one year. “You can go there, and in one year, you can have a paying job”.

Crisafulli also would not come down on either side on the gun bills, saying any legislation “will certainly have an opportunity to be vetted”.

“Certainly past year we were committed to that”, Crisafulli said.

The money would go to 48 technical centers or schools across the state to buy equipment and other things needed to expand the high school programs. Both the regular session in late April and a special session in August ended acrimoniously.

Florida Senate Minority Leader Arthenia Joyner, a state senator and Democrat from Tampa, offered a different point of view.