Steve Forbes Praises Rick Scott's Fla. Record

Rick Scott's time as governor of Florida proves that lowering taxes, cutting spending, and rolling back regulations brings results, Steve Forbes writes in an opinion piece published on ABCNews.com.

According to Forbes, Scott became governor of a state that was "an unholy mess" with 11.1 percent unemployment and a loss of more than 825,000 jobs in the previous four years.

While running for election in 2010, Scott promised to create 700,000 jobs in seven years.

"He is halfway there in just over two years, proving that these policies work," Forbes says.

Obamacare: Massive New Rules Revealed for 2013

In 2010, Forbes endorsed Scott's rival Bill McCollum in the Florida primary for the Republican ticket. He also served as an adviser to McCollum and helped him develop his economic plan.

But after looking at the record Scott has established as governor over the two years since taking office, Forbes has had a change of heart.

Forbes likens Scott's policies to those of former President Ronald Reagan and British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, as well as countries in Asia, Latin America, and parts of Europe that are promoting a pro-growth strategy to combat their economic woes.

"What Florida got in Scott was a conservative businessman's approach to attacking the problem.

"In his first year alone he vetoed $615 million from the state budget, and over his term he has overseen the elimination of more than 2,300 regulations on businesses and residents," the former presidential candidate writes. "While reducing the size and scope of Florida's government, Scott has cut taxes five times in a little over two years."

As a result, businesses are flocking to the state, including Northrop Grumman, Hertz, and Coca-Cola. Combined, the companies have relocated more than 7,000 jobs to Florida.

"The results are in: Since Scott took office, almost 350,000 new private sector jobs have been created — halfway to the goal he promised during the 2010 campaign — and the state's unemployment rate has dropped to 7.1 percent. That's down 4 percentage points since he took office. Florida's budget is expected to show its first surplus in six years.

"Scott has actually implemented what many conservatives have advocated for decades," Forbes concludes.

ChiefExecutive.net ranks Florida as the second best state for business in America for 2013.

Forbes says the success in Florida stands in contrast to the stagnation still on display across the country and that "one could forgive President Obama if he is a bit jealous and confused."

"Obama's liberal, big government policies have led to a stagnant national economy with massive job losses and minimal investment as business continues to hold trillions of dollars on the sidelines in fear of what this administration is doing to the national economy. "

Obamacare: Massive New Rules Revealed for 2013