Rick Scott Issues Press Release Explaining New Definition of 700,000-Job Campaign Promise

By Matthew Hendley Mon., Oct. 10 2011 at 9:10 AM

Categories: Great Scott!

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Gov. Rick Scott's office issued a news release late last week to explain the retraction of his campaign promise to create 700,000 jobs on top of the state's "normal growth" projection of 1 million jobs by 2017.

It looks like he's sticking to his new story, in which he claims he never promised to create extra jobs. His new promise is that he'll create 70 percent of the jobs that were expected to be created regardless of who's at the helm.

Well, here's the governor's explanation of events, from the news release:

Let me begin by saying that regardless of economic predictions that shift with the wind, my promise to create 700,000 jobs over seven years has not and will not change.

During my campaign for Governor last year, I unveiled a plan to fix Florida's economy and turn the state around. It was called the 7-7-7 Plan: Seven Steps to 700,000 Jobs in Seven Years. As I said during my campaign, this plan will create 700,000 jobs over seven years no matter what the economy might otherwise gain or lose.

No one, not even economists, can predict the future. What can be verified is actual job creation data. From July to December 2010, before I was in office, Florida's job creation numbers show that the state had a net loss of 20,100 jobs. For 2.5 years before that the state lost 878,100 jobs and the unemployment rate skyrocketed from 3.5 to 12 percent.

Since then, we have begun implementing the 7-7-7 plan and creating an environment where jobs can grow. Sure enough, Florida has gained 87,200 private sector jobs so far this year and the unemployment rate has started going down, bucking the trend at the national level.

Instead of focusing on hypotheticals, I'm focused on what I know will be accomplished through my 7-7-7 plan - the creation of 700,000 jobs over seven years regardless of what the economy might otherwise gain or lose. Floridians will judge me not on what an economist in Tallahassee predicts, but on actual job growth each month. Those are the numbers I will be held accountable for and that's what I remain focused on.

Did the governor just say his new campaign promise was to kill 300,000 jobs? Head back to the video evidence and decide for yourself.

Follow The Pulp on Facebook and on Twitter: @ThePulpBPB. Follow Matthew Hendley on Facebook and on Twitter: @MatthewHendley.

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