Rick Scott on Jobs

Supports the National Right-to-Work Act

Debbie Mucarsel-Powell (D): Easier. Looks forward to "fighting to defend labor rights." Voted for PRO Act to protect workers' rights to organize unions.

Rick Scott (R): Harder. Supports the National Right-to-Work Act, which would let employees in a unionized workplace not pay union dues.

No government assistance unless disabled or seeking work

The 12 Point Plan:
• No government assistance unless you are disabled or aggressively seeking work. If you can work, but refuse to work, you cannot live off of the hard work and sweat of your fellow Americans.
• Able bodied Americans under 60, who do not have young children or incapacitated dependents, should work. We need them pulling the wagon and paying taxes, not sitting at home taking money from the government. Currently, far too many Americans who can work are living off of the hard work of others, and have no 'skin in the game'. Government must never again incentivize people to not work by paying them more to stay home.

Designed unemployment system with maximum $275/week benefit

State should support early-stage businesses to create jobs

Opposed increasing the minimum wage

• Crist wants the state to accept federal funding to expand Medicaid coverage. Scott said he'd only temporarily expand Medicaid if it were 100 percent federally funded.
• Crist supports increasing the minimum wage. Scott does not.

FactCheck: Yes, unemployment up; but stimulus has helped

Scott got his numbers right but missed the mark for implying the state's recession was the result of poor handling by Crist. Experts told us Florida's economy tanked largely as a result of the housing market crisis, which included a tornado of issues over which Crist had little to no control. We rated his claim Half True.

During his first campaign, Scott stated that the "stimulus has not created one private sector job." But we found thousands of Floridians employed because of stimulus-funded programs--not to mention jobs for a company in which Scott owns stock. We rate Scott's statement "Pants on Fire!"

High unemployment compensation deters job creation

7 Steps; 700,000 jobs; 7 years

That's why it's time for a conservative outsider with real-world business experience to take charge. I am the only candidate with a comprehensive plan that will get our fiscal house in order, balance the budget, & create long-term, good-paying jobs. The plan isn't complex. In fact, it's very simple. And it's common sense. I've created jobs in the private sector. As governor, these 7 steps will create 700,000 jobs in 7 years:

1. Implement Accountability Budgeting
2. Reduce Government Spending
3. Enact Regulatory Reform
4. Focus on Job Growth & Retention
5. Invest in World Class State Universities
6. Reduce Property Taxes
7. Phase out the Business Income Tax