State of Florida Archives: on Corporations


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

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

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

Brian Mast: Tax businesses less, to spur job creation

Q: Do you support providing tax incentives to businesses for the purpose of job creation?

A: Yes. I have not been able to find one country throughout history who is been able to [tax] more and spend more in order to reduce their debt and grow their economy.

Source: Vote-Smart 2016 Florida Political Courage Test Nov 8, 2016

Gwen Graham: Line item veto to get rid of corporate handouts

The reckless government shutdown cost our national economy $24 billion and hurt Florida greatly. The shutdown was an abject failure of leadership. While they refused to fix the mess they made, members of congress had the audacity to continue to collect a paycheck while those at home suffered the consequences. I will work with both parties to stop future government shutdowns that put our economic security at risk while supporting policies that reflect North Florida values.
  • Work with Republicans and Democrats to get rid of corporate handouts and identify budget priorities for people, not special interests, like my father did during his time in Congress.
  • Support a presidential line item veto to help control wasteful Washington spending
  • Help balance the budget by taking steps like rewriting the tax code to eliminate loopholes that cost the country billions
  • Prohibit any member of congress from receiving a paycheck if congress forces a government shutdown or fails to pass a budget.
    Source: 2014 Florida House campaign website, GwenGraham.com Nov 4, 2014

    Jeb Bush: Repeal the mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists

    House Bill 1911 includes repeal of the mandatory helmet law for motorcyclists over the age of 21. I signed the bill [because] I believe government oversteps its legitimate role when it excessively interferes with personal freedom. That interference includes regulating an adult's decisions about his or her well-being if such decisions do not endanger the life or safety of others. Reasonable adults should be trusted to make reasonable decisions. For example, we have no laws requiring an individual to exercise, to eat a healthy diet, to get regular check-ups, or to avoid excess exposure to the sun - even though failure to comply with these habits reflects known health risks, and potential public health costs. Of course, we could significantly reduce deaths, injuries or health risks in Florida through a mandate that all individuals exercise, wear sunscreen, stop smoking, and learn how to swim, yet we impose no such requirements.
    Source: Approval notification on Florida Voting Record HB 1911 Jun 1, 2000

    Jeff Greene: Sold $21M of condos to CA dealer now facing charges

    Greene said to Meek, "I'm going to fight to end the culture of corruption and bribery in Washington, which I believe you're a part of." The billionaire real estate investor in turn was on the defensive about a real estate deal detailed in Sunday's St. Petersburg Times and Miami Herald in which Greene made about $21 million selling condo units for a buyer now facing criminal charges after every unit defaulted and lenders lost millions.

    "I was a victim," Greene said, dismissing Meek's suggestion that he "enabled fraud" by signing hundreds of blank deeds that were filled out by straw buyers. "It's very different when you sell a building to a guy and he turns out to be a crook."

    Greene dismissed Meek's accusation in the California condo deal with Delbert McConville. "I sold a building through a broker. They found this guy McConville. I've never met him," Greene said. "Everything I signed was done with my attorneys and the escrow officers, my loan agents. I didn't do anything crooked."

    Source: 2010 Florida Dem. Primary Debate, Miami Herald & P.B.Post Aug 10, 2010

    John McCain: Cut corporate income taxes to keep jobs here

    Q: The president's economic stimulus plan would send out 116 million checks to American homes, but without permanent tax cuts that you sought. Will you vote for this compromise?

    A: Yes, I will and I'm disappointed, because I think it's very important that we make the Bush tax cuts permanent. I voted to make them permanent twice already. If people and businesses and families in America are now planning their 2010 budget, there's a great deal of uncertainty. And if we don't make the tax cuts permanent, then they will experience what amounts to a tax increase. But I also would make sure that not only the tax cuts are made permanent, but we cut corporate income taxes. That would keep businesses here, and it would keep jobs here and create jobs here. We pay the highest corporate income tax of any nation in the world except for Japan. I'm glad to see that we're going to allow people to expense new investments in equipment, so they can write them off in a very short period of time.

    Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida Jan 24, 2008

    Marco Rubio: Loser pays, to discourage frivolous lawsuits

    Source: 100 Innovative Ideas for Florida's Future by Marco Rubio Nov 1, 2006

    Marco Rubio: Work across the aisle to make America more business-friendly

    Q: You say you will stand up to the Obama agenda and that Gov. Crist won't. You say your favorite senator is Jim DeMint of South Carolina, who opposes the Obama agenda right down the line. Doesn't that, in effect, mean that if you're elected it's more partisan gridlock?

    RUBIO: Well, partisan gridlock is not something I'm in favor of. But the problem is it depends on what you're standing for. I'd be more than happy to work across the aisle to do things like lower the capital gains tax, lower the corporate tax, flatten the tax rate, lower all of these other taxes that make America increasingly an unfriendly place to do business. And if the Obama administration tomorrow announces that that's their agenda, or the leadership in Congress does, I'll be thrilled to work with them. But what they're attempting to do is to fundamentally redefine the role of government in America, and we can't cooperate with that, because once we cross a certain point, we can't turn back.

    Source: Fox News Sunday 2010 Florida primary Senate debate Mar 28, 2010

    Marco Rubio: Businesses need certainty to commit to hiring new workers

    Rubio blamed the Obama administration for creating an atmosphere of uncertainty in which companies can't commit to hiring new workers. Businesses "are afraid of what next year is going to mean in terms of taxes, regulation & health-care," Rubio said. He ruled out any compromise that doesn't extend all the Bush-era tax cuts enacted in 2001 & 2003, which lowered rates on wages & investments for all Americans, and which are due to expire on Dec. 31.

    Obama favors extending the tax cuts only for households earning less than $250,000, about 98% of all taxpayers. Rubio argued that anything short of extending them for all Americans, poor and wealthy alike, would amount to a tax increase at a particularly vulnerable time. "There's a difference between compromise & cutting a deal," Rubio said. "Compromise is a good thing. Cutting deals in Washington, there's too much of that."

    Meek defended Obama's economic strategy. Crist straddled the positions of his rivals, supporting a compromise on the tax cuts

    Source: Business Week coverage of 2010 Florida Senate debate Oct 25, 2010

    Mitt Romney: Key to economic stimulus: get companies to buy more stuff

    Q: The president's economic stimulus plan would send out 116 million checks to American homes. The plan is somewhat contrary to yours, providing lots of short-term stimulus to individuals. Your plan focuses as much on the long term as the short term. Are you disappointed that your recipe for the economy was not embraced by the president? And will you now embrace his plan?

    A: Well, there's a great deal that is effective in his plan. First, he's getting money back to consumers. That makes sense to me I just think we need to go further. We go to corporate support and helping corporations have the incentive to buy more capital equipment. That he also does. I do it more aggressively by writing off a larger amount of capital expenditures--getting companies to buy more stuff so that other companies will hire people. If you want to turn an economy around, the key thing is to grow jobs. It's not just to get checks in the hands of consumers; it's consumers & companies buying things that create jobs.

    Source: 2008 GOP debate in Boca Raton Florida Jan 24, 2008

    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

    Rick Scott: Eliminate thousands of regulations on job creators

    Two years ago, we met together facing crippling debt, record-high unemployment and a downward spiral of job losses. Today, because of the tireless work of the men and women in this room, our businesses are creating hundreds of thousands of jobs, and our unemployment rate is nearly down to the national average; and we aren't stopping there. It's working.

    Two years ago, we knew we had been called here to make the difficult choices to help Florida families get back to work. Together, we faced these challenges head on. We cut taxes... We eliminated thousands of regulations on job creators... We paid down state debt for two years in a row... We invested in priorities--like education... And, now our economy is on the rebound. It's working.

    Because we made the hard choices over the last two years, we are able to make the smart choices to keep our economy growing this year.

    Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Florida Legislature Mar 5, 2013

    Rick Scott: Remove the sales tax on manufacturing equipment

    Our goal is economic growth and job creation. This year, we have two priorities to keep our economy growing: first--remove the sales tax on manufacturing equipment, and second--invest in our teachers by providing them a well-deserved pay raise.

    As long as even one Florida family needs a job, our work is not done. That is why we are committed to removing the sales tax on manufacturing equipment. Florida is one of only a few states with this tax, and we lag behind the nation in per capita manufacturing jobs. We need to level the playing field to compete for manufacturing jobs. Every manufacturing job supports two to three other jobs in our state.

    This year, we are also proposing that we continue to roll back the business tax by exempting 2,000 more small businesses from having to pay it. If we are successful this year, we will have removed the business tax from 70% of businesses since taking office. I am committed to getting rid of this tax entirely.

    Source: 2013 State of the State speech to Florida Legislature Mar 5, 2013

    Rick Scott: Do away with commercial lease tax

    We know that the commercial lease tax unfairly targets small and large businesses across our state. And, under the first for jobs tax cut package, we will begin the fight to do away with this unfair tax!
    Source: 2016 State of the State speech to Florida legislature Jan 12, 2016

    Rick Scott: Fighting for Florida's Future: cut the commercial lease tax

    Our "Fighting for Florida's Future" tax cut package will boost our economy and encourage businesses of all sizes to create jobs and build opportunities for generations of Floridians.

    One of the taxes we are fighting to cut is the commercial lease tax, which unfairly targets small businesses.

    Florida is now the only state in the nation to tax commercial leases. Our "Fighting for Florida's Future" tax cut package will begin to repeal this unfair tax to help small businesses.

    Source: 2017 Florida State of the State address Mar 7, 2017

    • The above quotations are from State of Florida Politicians: Archives.
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