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Rick Scott's Issue Positions (Political Courage Test)

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Key

Official Position: Candidate addressed this issue directly by taking the Political Courage Test.
Inferred Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, but Vote Smart inferred this issue based on the candidate's public record, including statements, voting record, and special interest group endorsements.
Unknown Position: Candidate refused to address this issue, or we could not infer an answer for this candidate despite exhaustive research of their public record.
Additional Information: Click on this icon to reveal more information about this candidate's position, from their answers or Vote Smart's research.
Other or Expanded Principles & Legislative Priorities are entered exactly as candidates submit them. Vote Smart does not edit for misspelled words, punctuation or grammar.

Rick Scott has failed to provide voters with positions on key issues covered by the 2018 Political Courage Test, despite repeated requests from Vote Smart and voters like you.

What is the Political Courage Test?

Issue Positions

For Presidential and Congressional candidates who refuse to provide voters with their positions, Vote Smart has researched their public records to determine their likely responses. These issue positions are from 2018.

  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "Just like Governor Scott championed this year in Florida, he will work to require a supermajority vote of two-thirds of each house of Congress to approve any tax or fee increase before it can become law. This proposal helps ensure Congress rightfully treats tax and fee increases as an absolute last resort, not as a knee-jerk reaction to fund government waste. Governor Scott is committed to make it harder for politicians to raise your taxes and believes that keeping more money in the hands of hardworking taxpayers and job creators is the best way to ensure long-term economic growth." (rickscottforflorida.com)
  • " We can never do enough to support our military and veterans and I am proud to award these important grants to an industry that contributes nearly $85 billion to our economy." (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "This #SmallBusinessSaturday I want to introduce you to John Kelley, President of Dusobox in Orlando. I talked to John and his employees Thursday about how getting government out of the way has led to job and wage growth in Florida, and how we can take this approach to DC." (twitter.com)
  • "Governor Scott is committed to ending wasteful spending in Washington by providing the executive branch with the constitutional ability to remove individual budget projects through a line item veto. Just like in Florida, a line item veto gives more oversight to the budget process and helps ensure taxpayer dollars are being spent wisely and with the best return on investment." (rickscottforflorida.com)
  • "When I became Governor, I promised the families of our state that I would spend every day fighting to grow Florida's economy, and over the past seven years, we have seen firsthand the huge success that comes with creating an environment where business can grow and create opportunities. Today, thanks to our hard work to cut taxes and reduce burdensome regulations, Florida businesses have created nearly 1.5 million private-sector jobs and unemployment has dropped in every Florida county" (votesmart.org)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • "I asked for a bill which would ban bump stocks and raise the age to purchase a gun from 18 to 21, ... and this bill does that." (votesmart.org)
  • "Here’s how we can fix our healthcare system: ✅Remove Obamacare mandates and taxes ✅Allow insurance sales across state lines ✅Protect those with pre-existing conditions ✅Let young adults stay on parents' plans until turning 26 ✅Allow families to buy the health care they want" (twitter.com)
  • "My position in regards to healthcare reform has not changed. Obamacare is a disaster and costs way too much. We must find a way to reform it. But I do not agree with efforts to remove protections for those with pre-existing conditions." (twitter.com)
  • "Obamacare is a disaster and costs way too much. But I have been clear that keeping the pre-existing provisions in any health care reform is important. See my op-ed here on this topic." (twitter.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • " However, Governor Scott does not favor punishing children for the actions of their parents and supports securing the immigration status of DREAMers under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program." (rickscottforflorida.com)
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
  • Despite exhaustive research, Vote Smart was unable to find information about this candidate's position.
This candidate has responded to a Political Courage Test in a previous election. As a continued effort to provide the American public with factual information on candidates running for public office, these archived responses are made available here.
Pro-life a) Do you consider yourself pro-choice or pro-life?
b) Should abortion be legal only within the first trimester of pregnancy?
c) Should abortion be legal when the pregnancy resulted from incest or rape?
d) Should abortion be legal when the life of the woman is endangered?
e) Do you support requiring parental notification before an abortion is performed on a minor?
f) Do you support requiring parental consent before an abortion is performed on a minor?
g) Do you support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods?
h) Do you support abstinence-only sexual education programs?
i) Other or expanded principles

1) State SpendingIndicate what state funding levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.2) State TaxesIndicate what state tax levels (#1-6) you support for the following general categories. Select one level per category; you may use a number more than once.3) Budget StabilizationIndicate which proposals you support (if any) for balancing Florida's budget.

a) Education (higher)
b) Education (K-12)
c) Environment
d) Health care
e) Law enforcement
f) Transportation and highway infrastructure
g) Welfare
a) Alcohol taxes
b) Cigarette taxes
c) Corporate taxes
d) Gasoline taxes
e) Property taxes
f) Sales taxes
a) Tapping into Florida's "rainy day" fund
b) Issuing the early release of certain non-violent offenders
c) Increasing tuition rates at public universities
d) Instituting mandatory furloughs and layoffs for state employees
e) Reducing pension benefits for state employees
f) Reducing benefits for Medicaid recipients
g) Privatizing certain government services
Facing a multi-billion dollar budget shortfall and a sluggish economy, we will look at every area of the state budget to see if our state tax dollars are being spent efficiently on effective programs. We will perform a top to bottom review and examine every agency and fund programs that work well.
As Governor, I will eliminate the business income tax over seven years and reduce the state property tax by 19%.
To stabilize the budget my administration will conduct a thorough review of all spending and only allocate tax dollars to programs and projects that achieve their intended goal and provide a necessary service to our citizens. We will implement efficiencies and drive down the cost of running the state government while still serving our citizens. By implementing my 777 plan which will reduce spending, implement accountability budgeting, and create a business friendly environment for our economy to grow, we will be able balance the budget and grow our tax base.

c) Do you support limits on the following types of contributions to candidates for state government?

Yes a) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Florida governors?
Yes b) Do you support limits on the number of terms for Florida state legislators?
1) Individual
2) Political Action Committee
3) Corporate
4) Political Party
d) Should candidates for state office be encouraged to meet voluntary spending limits?
e) Do you support requiring full and timely disclosure of campaign finance information?
I believe that individuals should be able to exercise their right to free speech by financially supporting the candidates they believe in.
a) Do you support capital punishment for certain crimes?
b) Do you support alternatives to incarceration for certain non-violent offenders, such as mandatory counseling or substance abuse treatment?
c) Should the possession of small amounts of marijuana be decriminalized?
d) Should a minor accused of a violent crime be prosecuted as an adult?
e) Should a minor who sends sexually-explicit or nude photos by cell phone face criminal charges for a first offense?
f) Should red light cameras be used to detect traffic violations?
g) Do you support the enforcement of federal immigration laws by state and local police?
I support the death penalty for heinous crimes and alternatives to incarceration for non-violent offenders - such as drug courts. I support bringing an AZ style immigration bill to Florida.
a) Should Florida repeal its ban on public funding of religious institutions?
b) Do you support reducing government regulations on the private sector?
c) Do you support increased state funding for job-training programs that re-train displaced workers?
d) Do you support expanding access to unemployment benefits?
e) Do you support providing financial incentives to the private sector for the purpose of job creation?
f) Do you support increased spending on infrastructure projects for the purpose of job creation?
g) Do you support providing direct financial assistance to homeowners facing foreclosure?
The best cure for our economic ills are jobs. My 7-step plan to create 700,000 jobs in 7 years will turn Florida around. I want to make Florida the job creation model for the nation.
a) Do you support national education standards?
b) Do you support requiring public schools to administer high school exit exams?
c) Should students be permitted to lead prayers at noncompulsory public school events?
d) Do you support ending the practice of tenure for Florida public school teachers?
e) Do you support using a merit pay system for teachers?
f) Do you support state funding for charter schools?
g) Do you support the state government providing college students with financial aid?
h) Should illegal immigrants who graduate from Florida high schools be eligible for in-state tuition at public universities?
For Florida to attract business, compete effectively in the global economy, and create 21st century jobs, we must have an educated workforce. It is time to create an educational framework that is customized so that each student can reach his or her potential. The key ingredients we need to do this include: Measuring and Improving Student Readiness Expanding School Choice Virtual and Online Education Mentoring Programs Preparing A New Workforce
a) Do you support state funding for the development of alternative energy?
b) Do you support state funding for the development of traditional domestic energy sources (e.g. coal, natural gas, oil)?
c) Do you support providing financial incentives to farms that produce biofuel crops?
d) Do you support state funding for improvements to Florida's energy infrastructure?
e) Do you support state funding for open space preservation?
f) Do you support enacting environmental regulations aimed at reducing the effects of climate change?
Floridians must realize that a personal investment in the environment provides them with an exponentially higher return in economic opportunity and quality of life. Our approach to environmental policy will rely on the following tenants: - A stable regulatory environment is key - Stewardship is a personal responsibility - A free market should drive the diversification on our energy portfolio; government should not be too restrictive or prescriptive - Florida should maintain its rights to protect our environment - Environmental policy should be based and driven by sound science, not politics
No a) Do you support restrictions on the purchase and possession of guns?
No b) Do you support requiring background checks on gun sales between private citizens at gun shows?
Yes c) Do you support allowing individuals to carry concealed guns?
No d) Do you support requiring a license for gun possession?
e) Other or expanded principles
No a) Do you support a universally-accessible, publicly-administered health insurance option?
Yes b) Do you support expanding access to health care through commercial health insurance reform?
Yes c) Do you support interstate health insurance compacts?
No d) Should individuals be required to purchase health care insurance?
Yes e) Do you support monetary limits on damages that can be collected in malpractice lawsuits?
No f) Do you support legalizing physician-assisted suicide in Florida?
No g) Do you support allowing doctors to prescribe marijuana to their patients for medicinal purposes?
h) Other or expanded principles
a) Should marriage only be between one man and one woman?
b) Should Florida allow same-sex couples to form civil unions?
c) Do you support state funding for stem cell research?
d) Do you support state funding for embryonic stem cell research?
e) Do you support the state's use of affirmative action?
f) Do you support the inclusion of sexual orientation in Florida's anti-discrimination laws?
g) Do you support the inclusion of gender identity in Florida's anti-discrimination laws?
I believe that marriage is between one man and one woman. I oppose tax dollars being used to fund embryonic stem cell research.
My top priority when elected is to make Florida the number one state in the country for job creation and I will accomplish that through the implementation of my 777 economic plan - 7 Steps to 700,000 Jobs in 7 Years. By reducing regulation, cutting state spending, shrinking state government and eliminating the business tax we will make Florida the obvious choice for businesses looking to relocate and provide an environment that encourages businesses already based in Florida to grow and expand. Floridians want to work and my administration's top priority will be creating jobs.

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