Florida Republican Gov.
Rick Scott Thursday received stellar marks for his pro-business performance from one of the state’s leading industry groups. Associated Industries of Florida gave Scott its top grade for the recently completed legislative session, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported Friday.
The group, one of Florida’s largest business associations, praised “business-friendly Gov. Rick Scott” and the Legislature for “a true commitment to fiscal responsibility.”
The business group highlighted the areas in which it has an interest and Scott championed, including the repeal of Florida’s growth management laws, partial deregulation of private insurers, efforts to curb business lawsuits, a reduction in unemployment benefits, economic development incentives, and a host of other measures.
The association’s lobbying arm took credit for helping to pass 19 measures. Its leaders also highlighted seven bills they helped defeat, including an Arizona-style crackdown on illegal immigration and a provision that would have allowed concealed weapons permit holders to openly carry their weapons in public.
The association and the state’s other top business association, the Florida Chamber of Commerce, had predicted that Scott and the Legislature would deliver most, if not all, of the business lobby’s agenda in 2011. The score cards seem to back that up.
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