2018 FL Governor's race: on Corporations


Andrew Gillum: Trump tax cuts gave billions to our richest corporations

Q: Support President Trump's tax cuts?

Ron DeSantis (R): Yes. "The reforms will better enable American companies to compete with foreign businesses & will help stem the tide of companies & jobs going overseas."

Andrew Gillum (D): No. Puts "billions of dollars in the coffers of our richest corporations, money that would otherwise protect Social Security & Medicare, & pay for roads & bridges."

Q: Increase taxes on corporations and/or high-income individuals to pay for public services?

Ron DeSantis (R): No. Keep Florida a low-tax state "by opposing tax increases & requiring a supermajority vote in the Legislature to raise taxes."

Andrew Gillum (D): Yes. Increase Florida's corporate tax rate by 2% to generate $1 billion for education funding.

Source: CampusElect.org Issue Guide on 2018 Florida Governor race Oct 9, 2018

Philip Levine: Stop special interest tax breaks in Tallahassee

Tallahassee has not been working for Floridians. Under Republican control, the Legislature has been run by an unaccountable majority, cutting deals behind closed doors and giving tax-breaks to special interests. Philip will fight to make sure the legislature is held accountable. To make Tallahassee serve the people best, Philip proposes using the same standards local governments use and ensure any and all visitors speaking with elected leaders must be publicly available information.
Source: 2018 Florida Governor campaign website PhilipLevine2018.com Oct 9, 2018

Andrew Gillum: Raise corporate taxes from 5.5% to 7.75%

Gillum said on CNN's "State of the Union" that "only 3% of companies in the state of Florida pay the corporate tax rate. And that 3% under the Donald Trump tax scam got a windfall of $6.3 billion overnight." A spokesman said the mayor was citing an analysis by the left-leaning Florida Center for Fiscal and Economic Policy in 2015 that said only about 53,000 corporations in Florida, or about 3% of the total, paid any state corporate income tax.

Gillum, currently the mayor of Tallahassee, has said he is in favor of raising Florida's corporate tax rate from 5.5% to 7.75%, according to the Tampa Bay Times.

He has said those funds would go toward education. [This week, Gillum also] acknowledged that his "Medicare for all" plan would require increasing taxes on corporations.

Source: CNN on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race Sep 2, 2018

Andrew Gillum: 90% of businesses pay no corporate income tax, & too little

Question: How would you reform the state's tax system?

GILLUM: Florida's tax structure has meant that while working families pay their fair share, the richest corporations pay little or nothing towards our state's prosperity. Ninety percent of Florida businesses pay no corporate income tax, and those that do pay too little.

Our corporate tax rate is lower than bordering states like Georgia and Alabama. My "Fair Share for Florida's Future" plan will adjust the state's corporate tax rate from 5.5 percent to 7.75 percent, a rate competitive with neighboring states. This will generate at least $1 billion for investment into our state's most worthy priorities--because I don't believe we become a great place to do business by being the cheapest date.

We'll attract more top-tier companies by investing in our workforce and a strong quality of life for their employees like better schools and highways.

Source: Miami Herald on 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race Aug 12, 2018

Adam Putnam: Cut regulations & taxes for farms & businesses

Working on his family's citrus and cattle farm taught him that business is not just business. It's personal. Adam knows what ramifications government regulations can have on Florida farms and small businesses. That is why Adam is committed to cutting taxes and eliminating burdensome regulations in order to strengthen the economy, create jobs, and put more money back in Floridians' pockets.
Source: 2018 Florida Gubernatorial campaign website AdamPutnam.com Jul 12, 2017

Andrew Gillum: Corporate tax cuts can create jobs, support training

Gillum sides with Gov. Rick Scott (R) in his fight over taxpayer-funded economic incentives. Scott supports them as a job-creating tool, while House Speaker Richard Corcoran (R) blocked the funding as "corporate welfare." As mayor, Gillum has used incentives, but thinks the state's economic development regime lacks a training aspect, such as apprentice programs. He said the state should consider boosting funding for all types of programs, with those tied to labor unions needing to be strengthened.
Source: Politico.com on 2018 Florida gubernatorial race May 31, 2017

  • The above quotations are from 2018 Florida Gubernatorial race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Corporations.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
  • Click here for more quotes by Rick Scott on Corporations.
Candidates and political leaders on Corporations:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
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Page last updated: Jun 10, 2019